Messages - Food for the Soul

All written publications on this site, every page, may be copied and shared for evangelistic purposes. Did Jesus say, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," "and make sure you copyright it!" I think not. God bless you with the Light of the world.

Jesus taught that the broad street in life leads to destruction, but the straight and narrow path leads to everlasting life:

“Enter in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leads unto life (eternal life) and few there be that find it” Matthew 7:13-14.

Jesus informed us here that most people wish to go down a sinful path and avoid following Him on the strait and narrow path that leads to life everlasting. He said, “...few there be that find it.”

Most people, even many who call themselves “Christians” today, do not like the constraints of living holy.

Jesus said,

“He who takes not his cross and follows after Me, is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life shall lose it, and he that loses his life for My sake shall find it” Matthew 10:38-39.

Yes, there are things to give up, to deny ones self, in order to follow Christ, but they aren’t worth mentioning compared to eternal life, are they?

The Lord is telling us here that if we seek after our own desires in life, searching for our own fulfillment, we will certainly lose our lives (eternally); but if we forsake all, if necessary, to do the will of God in this world, we will gain heaven and rewards unspeakable forever (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Paul explains it very well, as he described Moses’s sacrifice to do the will of God and gain heaven:

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years (emancipated), refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith, he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible” Hebrews 11:24-27.

This life lasts for only a moment compared to eternity. Is there really anything so pleasurable, for that moment, that is worth spending eternity in hell for? The answer is quite simple, yet so many people, even many who call themselves “Christians,” take the wrong path.

Why are so many people deceived?

Do you believe that all the people who call themselves “Christians” (approximately 2.2 billion) are entering heaven simply because they name the name of Christ?

Jesus said,

“This people (speaking of the hypocrites) draw near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” Matthew 15:8.

Apostle Peter said,

“If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?” 1 Peter 4:18.

Notice that Peter made a distinction between the “ungodly” and the “sinner.” He didn’t refer to all of the unsaved people as “ungodly.” He referenced both, because some people do not claim God as their God, so they are “ungodly;” but the “sinner” might claim that God is their God, yet continue in sin, thus they aren’t denying the existence of God, or that they are servants of God, but they are “sinners” because they continue in sin.

This means, folks, that sin will separate us from God. That is a fact that Calvinists and many others who claim to be “Christians” refuse to believe. They refuse to believe it because they simply don’t want to quit sinning. These want God, and sin at the same time; they want to walk the broad path.

Through prayer and spending a lot of time in God’s Word, learning at the feet of Jesus every day, He has given me guidance on how to overcome.

I asked the Lord to help me overcome temptation and accomplish one primary thing, above all else, and that is to live pleasing in His sight. In response, one of the things He has shown me is that I need to seek the “ancient paths.”

The Word of the Lord came to the Prophet Jeremiah, saying,

“Because My people have forgotten Me, they have burned incense to vanity, which has caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in a way not cast up, to make their land desolate and a perpetual hissing, everyone that passes by shall be astonished and wag his head” Jeremiah 18:15-16.

In other words, because of vanity, pride and self will, people are stumbling from the ancient paths, and they are walking a broad path not cast up for them by God, what many might refer to today as the “old fashioned ways.”

God never changes. He is the same today, yesterday and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

The youth especially might say, That’s boring!

Albeit, I know young kids and young adults who love to pray and serve the Lord, because they are experiencing God on a level many Christians don’t know about. These kids were raised in holiness churches and today they have spiritual dreams and visions, they speak in tongues, as the apostles did on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit of the Lord was poured out (Acts 2), and they sincerely find that serving the Lord is a constant “high,” if you will. They have the spiritual insight to understand that getting drunk, getting high on drugs and getting pregnant before they are old enough to marry, lead down the paths to destruction.

The Apostle Peter prophesied:

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams” Acts 2:17.

This is happening in certain places, among certain people who walk the ancient paths. It is happening among those who love God with all of their heart, with all of their mind and with all of their strength; they have no delight in the things of the world, but rather desire the presence of God above anything else in this world.

Peter also said concerning these who walk the ancient paths:

“You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9.

The Lord has also taught me patience. As described in Acts 1-2, the apostles and others, a group of about 120, were waiting for the Holy Ghost to fill them with power for service, the Comforter that was promised by Jesus (John 14:26), and they had to “tarry” in Jerusalem (Luke 24:49). Sometimes God works quickly, and at other times our faith is tested and we have to wait, as the apostles did for the promise of the Holy Ghost. I have learned to wait on God for His best gifts, for revelation and for His promises. I had been praying several hours when I received the gift of the Holy Ghost at the age of about 14. Two faithful saints of God prayed with me until about midnight. As we were silently praying through the night, it was as though lightning suddenly hit me when the Holy Ghost fell. Yes, I have learned to have patience and wait on the Lord.  

If you wish to overcome, it is necessary to walk the ancient paths, not in “a way not cast up” by God. The prophets and the apostles walked the ancient paths. These paths lead to holiness and consecration, and they are unknown to the world. In fact, the world abhors the ancient paths.

You can only place satan under your feet on the ancient paths paved by the Lord God.

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining shall surely come to pass. Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

Now, these kids know how to have a great time serving the Lord:

Screen shot: YouTube.com  -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdYoTkruddI

__________________________________________________________________________________

CHRISTIANS BEWARE!  “Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good manners” 1 Corinthians 15:33

When Jesus prayed, He said, “I have given them (speaking of His disciples) Your Word, and the world hates them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” John 17:14-16.

Once we receive Jesus, the only begotten Son of the living God, as our Savior, we are not of the world. Jesus said this during his prayer, before He was crucified for the sins of the world. Did Jesus lie? No!

It is God’s will that, once we know who He is and receive Jesus as our Savior, that our nature be changed. The Word of God tells us,

“Now I say this, brethren (of the household of faith), that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption” 1 Corinthians 15:50.

The Word of God also tells us,

“Awake to righteousness, and sin not, for some have not the knowledge of God; I speak this to your shame” 1 Corinthians 15:34.

“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

The bottom line is this: we, who are in Christ Jesus, are new creatures, and we are not to sin. We might sin in a weak moment, but it will not be our habit to sin. Paul wrote:

“My little children, these things I write unto you, that you sin not; and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 John 2:1.

Saints, do not "hang out" with sinners, even if they are among your family members. “Evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Jesus is our example in every situation. He was with His disciples, along with some Pharisees that were in the midst of the people to criticize him, when His mother, Mary, and His brothers, the sons of Joseph, came along, desiring to speak with Jesus:

“Then one said unto Him, Behold, Your mother and Your brethren stand without, desiring to speak with You. But He answered and said unto him that told Him, Who is My mother and who are My brethren? And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples and said, Behold, My mother and My brethren! For whoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, sister and mother” Matthew 12:47-50.

I have a story of my own to tell regarding family members that I can’t associate with, until they get saved, but I won’t go into that. My situation is basically as Jesus illustrated in the passage above.

Friends, especially in this hour, whatever might hinder you in any way, shape or form spiritually, avoid it, and run from it entirely, if possible. We are living in a very evil day and the Word of God tells us,

“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8.

Paul admonished us:

“A little leaven leavens the whole lump” Galatians 5:9.

Throughout the Bible, leaven is referred to as sin.

Paul further admonished:

“Purge out, therefore, the old leaven, that you may be a new lump (a new creature in Christ – without leaven – without sin), as you are unleavened, for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” 1 Corinthians 5:7.

The Old Testament is a type and shadow of things to come in the New Testament. During the Passover, the Hebrews were instructed to remove leaven from their bread and eat unleavened bread for seven days (Exodus 12:15). They were to remove leaven from their entire house – purge it out! This was a type/shadow of our sanctification. Jesus saved us from our sins, not to leave us in our sins, full of sin. We are to be sanctified, to live holy. The Apostle Paul also wrote,

“Therefore, Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate (outside of Jerusalem’s gate)” Hebrews 13:12.

I will leave this final teaching of Paul with you:

“Now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such an one not to eat (fellowship)...therefore, put away from among yourselves that wicked person” 1 Corinthians 5:11-13.

Was Paul so confident that he believed himself to be invincible under any circumstances? He said,

“I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” I Corinthians 9:27.

We must be vigilant, saints.

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining shall surely come to pass. Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Screen shot: YouTube.com

CHRISTIAN PROGRESSIVES?

I have seen things in churches that I never expected to see there during my lifetime, or ever. I have seen girls attend church services in such short shorts, that their bottoms were showing beyond the shorts’ hemline – yes, more than once!

I have read materials published by one of the oldest Pentecostal churches in America, that could have actually been published by the godless it was so secular. In fact, their publication on “Forward In Faith” reminded me of training materials I received while working for a government agency.

I have news for “Christian Progressives,” here is what the Prophet Jeremiah has to say to you:

Yes, it’s so true; I am “astonished” and “shaking my head” in disgust!

I grew up in a Pentecostal church my entire life and I never thought I would live to see the day that women wear spaghetti straps, low, low necklines and really short shorts, so short their bottoms are literally hanging out at the hemline, in the house of God!

Women! If you are looking to attract men in that fashion, why not save yourself some very severe grief and go to bars instead? God will judge those who enter His sanctuary in such a vulgar manner! You would actually be better off going to a bar (Revelation 3:15-16)!

The prophet went on to write what God told him to write:

“I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity” Jeremiah 18:17.

If you Liberal-Progressives intend to come into the house of God to defile it and make it a brothel of worldliness, and bring down the holy standard of God Almighty, He will send the enemy after you, and He will turn His back on you! You have no idea of the danger, or what you are doing.

There is a movement among churches to become “Progressive” today and attract the world, to gain more members and, of course, collect more tithes and offerings, because attendance in Christian churches is declining drastically throughout the nation.

Overseers! Take heed, lest you find yourself happily working against God, instead of in His behalf. Our God does NOT CHANGE with the times. He told us:

“You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9.

Christians are a “royal priesthood,” a “holy nation,” a “peculiar people.” We have not been called to collect the attention of the world, lure them into church and into participation with us by acting like the ungodly! Hello. We are supposed to be calling them out of a world of darkness, into God’s marvelous light – holiness.

There is more than one reason why Jesus said,

“Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” Matthew 18:20.

Why didn’t He use the figures two or three hundred, or thousand? His emphasis was on small groups, because He knew very well that there would be a significant decline in believers in the last days. Yes, He also wanted us to know that He would be with us even if there are just a few gathered together.

“Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day (the Day of the Lord) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed (the antichrist), the son of perdition” 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

It is very much like this today, overseers, pastors, evangelists, teachers, that the churches are declining in attendance, because the days are becoming more wicked. The Apostle Paul wrote that there would be a “falling away first,” not an ingathering. If church attendance is diminishing, it is time to look up for the Lord’s return! It is not time to conjure up ways to attract the ungodly into your congregation, such as in “come as you are” slogans, unless your focus is on filthy lucre! (Titus 1:11)

Many pastors today believe they have to come up with strategies to attract congregants, such as “come as you are” (half naked okay);or don’t worry, we won’t embarrass you with an altar call (because we could care less whether or not you really get saved, we just want you to come and at least give an offering); and we will even serve you cafe latte during the morning service (because we want to emphasize socializing, not Christ). If these “Progressive” patterns describe your church, you have veered a long way from the foundation of the truth and the reason Jesus set the church in order.

Allow me to give some of you an example,

Jesus said,

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…and these signs shall follow them that believe, In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” Mark 16:15,17-18.

By the way, Jesus wasn’t talking about our deliberately picking up serpents, or drinking deadly substances; because Jesus said to the devil, when the devil told Him to cast Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, “Jesus said unto him, It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God” Matthew 4:7.

Jesus emphasized that we would be bold and not even back down from serpents, as we go out to preach the gospel; this was the implication. He did not mean we should tempt God by deliberately handling snakes, as some do; neither are we to deliberately drink poison, but if someone poisons us, God has already promised not to allow it to harm us.

Jesus said we would preach the gospel, cast out devils, speak with new tongues (the gift of tongues Acts 2:4), take up serpents, if we drink any deadly thing, it shall not harm us, and we will lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.

If you are an overseer, pastor, teacher or evangelist, are you operating in the gifts of the Spirit and fulfilling the call of Jesus, as described above?

If you are rather figuring out how to make the church grow, by compromise and becoming more worldly and less godly, you are on the wrong path, and that path leads to death, hell and destruction.

God is calling His people to the ancient paths (Jeremiah 18:15), not a new path.

Personally, I attend Bible study with a group of generally about five. Today, I believe we are fortunate to have the five of us in our area. All are welcome to attend, to stay and to learn. No one is welcome to come in dressed in vulgar attire to attract the lusts of men, or disrupt attentions away from God and worship.

Jesus said,

“Except those days (the last days) should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved, but for the elect’s sake, those days shall be shortened” Matthew 24:22.

In other words, the days have become so wicked, that unless the Lord returns sooner, than later, no one would be saved.

MY SHEEP KNOW MY VOICE

God compares His people to sheep, as they are often referenced in the Word of God. Jesus said,

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me” John 10:27.

Jesus also spoke of the habits of the sheep, to demonstrate why He refers to us as sheep:

“He that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep, to him the porter opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice, and a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers” John 10:2-5.

Have you ever felt a foreboding about something, followed through with it anyway, and it turned out disastrous?

Have you ever felt guilt rise up about some decision, or activity, that you felt the Lord would not be pleased with, but you ignored the guilt, perhaps justifying the thing as borderline, but not a sin, only to later discover that decision, or activity, led to greater sin and condemnation?

Do you ever participate in worldly events that you know Jesus wouldn’t do, but you allow those things because, well, “I’m only human?”

Even though the Word of God says, “Wine is a mocker; strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1), do you ever convince yourself you are only a social drinker, you know when to quit, and drink anyway?

God placed into His people, those who have repented and received Jesus as their Savior, a conscience and the tugging of His Spirit upon our hearts to know when to beware. It is only when we ignore those tugs and thoughts of caution, that they eventually go away and finally, one day, perhaps never return.

The Word of God says,

“He that, being often reproved, hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy” Proverbs 29:1.

God also warned, just before sending a devastating flood that destroyed all of mankind, except for one righteous man and his family,

“My Spirit shall not always strive with man...” Genesis 6:3. (He then decided to send the flood – Genesis 6:5-8.)

Romans 1:21-32, explains in full detail how people can go from refusing to acknowledge and serve the Lord, or give Him glory, to indulging in their own sinful lusts, to the degree that they cross over to a reprobate mind, meaning there is no hope for that person – ever!

One might consider that someone who is reprobate has never known God, because if they did, God wouldn’t allow them to pluck them out of His hand. Jesus did say, “no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand” John 10:29.

He said, “no man;” He did not say that we, ourselves, could not turn away from God and betray Him.

There is a flurry of reassurances on the internet and throughout churches about this “no ability to backslide” (Calvin) doctrine. To make this short, I will simply provide one area of scripture which dispels that whole entire theme:

“It is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put Him to an open shame” Hebrews 6:4-6.

This is not referring to committing a sin, once a person has been saved and received the gift of the Holy Ghost; this is referring to falling away from the faith entirely, for all of God’s people have messed up and had to repent at some point, or another.

The point here is that there is such a thing as backsliding from the faith and being given over to a “reprobate mind," not redeemable, as per God’s decision. Again, Romans 1:21-32 is also a very good example of this condition.

People simply would rather isolate some scriptures that seem to indicate we can never lose our salvation, because they want to continue in sin, but all of the scriptures must be “rightly divided” (2 Timothy 2:5), so the entire truth is laid out before us. No scripture is of private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20).

That being said, it is of vital importance to hear the voice of God, as Jesus said we would, if we are His sheep (John 10:27).

We must first know the Word of God better than we know anything in this world. We are unable to discern if it is the Lord’s voice, or the deceptive voice of another, if we don’t know the Word of God for comparison.

How many books have you read? Enough? Perhaps very many? Comparatively, how much have you read and studied the Word of God, which is the pathway to heaven, without which people end up in hell.

How important is reading the Word of God? It is as important as getting into heaven for all eternity, or ending up in the eternal flames of hell.

The Bible tells us that God is His Word (John 1:1, 14). If we don’t love and cleave to His Word, we don’t love Him!

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining will also come to pass. Please don't neglect your eternal soul. If you aren't saved, I invite you to visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website.  God bless you.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Screen shot: YouTube.com

“PULLING THEM OUT OF THE FIRE”

Major Bible prophecies have been fulfilled regarding the end times and the return of the Lord, confirming to the saints that the “catching up” of the saints (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) could happen at any time.

Israel became a nation in our generation (1948); Jerusalem was retaken by Israel during the Six Day War, (1967); Israel is “blossoming like a rose” (Isaiah 35:1), and these prophecies had to be fulfilled in order for the Lord to return, according to Bible prophecy. The prophecies have been fulfilled and now we are “looking up” for the return of the Lord.

We are living in very evil times; but we are also living in the most exciting time yet for the saints of God, who are ready and watching for His return.

Some of us, no doubt, have a gnawing hesitation, as earnestly as we wait for our Savior, because we have unsaved loved ones. If all of your loved ones are saved, how very blessed you are!

The Lord laid this message on my heart, as I made supplications for my family, and other loved ones, to surrender to God and turn away from sin, so they can be ready for the Lord’s return.

The saints of God are excitedly anticipating Christ’s return, but if our loved ones aren’t saved, we must ask ourselves if we have done all that can be done to win them to Jesus, before it’s too late to escape the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21) and God’s wrath poured out upon a wicked world.

Some may need to hear the gospel; others may have been saved at one time, but are living in a state of willful sin and they are far from God. Whatever the case may be, it is important to pray the right kind of prayers for the particular circumstances of the unsaved, and it is equally as important to approach them in the manner God would have us to, according to instructions given in the Holy Word of God.

Jude wrote about the lost,

“Of some, have compassion, making a difference; and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” Jude 1:22-23 (emphasis added).

In other words, there are those we can approach with compassion and consultation, making a difference in their way of thinking through humble admonition. There are others, however, that are steeped in sin, that we may not even want to approach because of their behavior, but Jude said some need to be warned to fear God and hell fire that awaits them, if they do not repent.

Each person that is not saved, depending on his/her circumstances, needs to be approached in perhaps a different way, as we are led of the Holy Spirit.

Ezekiel wrote extensively about negligent watchmen who failed to warn evil men against committing their wicked acts, and the prophet warned that God would require the blood of these sinners at their hands on account of their negligence. Ezekiel warned the watchmen not only in chapter 3, but he went on to repeat the same warnings in chapter 33.

God told Ezekiel:

“Go to them of the captivity, unto the children of your people and speak to them, and tell them, Thus says the Lord God, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear...And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the Word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, I have made you a watchman unto the house of Israel, therefore, hear the Word at My mouth and give them warning from Me. When I say unto the wicked, You shall surely die, and you give him not warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die, because you have not given him warning; he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood will I require at your hand. Nevertheless, if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he is warned; also you have delivered your soul” Ezekiel 3:11,16-21.

Do you perhaps have a family member, or other loved one, who is opposed to hearing about their need for salvation, to the extent that you have not wanted to approach that person? This is not uncommon, and some are very opposed to hearing the gospel of salvation, or the fact that they are a sinner in need of the Savior.

If you have attempted to speak to that one, but this person has adamantly refused the Lord, there may be nothing more you can say, but you can pray that God will send a messenger this one will hear, even if they didn’t want to hear from you.

We can pray that God will send a messenger our loved ones will hear; and we can pray “whatever it takes to bring them to salvation, so be it.”

Do we pray for blessings, protection, healing and financial blessings for our lost loved ones? We can, but we had better include in our prayers that even if it takes the “destruction of their flesh,” bring them to their knees (1 Corinthians 5:5). Some will repent on their deathbed, but at no other time. Would we rather them die feeling good, but end up in hell unsaved and lost, or pray that “whatever it takes, if it takes the destruction of their flesh, save them, oh Lord.”

Paul admonished the saints in Corinth, regarding a man who was sleeping with his father’s wife, to turn that backslidden brother “over to satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” 1 Corinthians 5:5.

The reason Paul instructed the saints to pray in this manner is because if saints who backslide and are caught up in such a vile sin as this, and they do not repent, we need to pray for “the destruction of their flesh,” so that in their grave illness, perhaps on their death bed, they will repent and ask for God’s forgiveness.

If we continue to pray for blessings upon our loved ones who are living in sin and disobedience, especially if they have known the Lord and His goodness, it is imperative to give them strong warning and pray “whatever it takes, even if it takes the destruction of their flesh, bring them to repentance, oh Lord.”

If we pray comfort and blessings upon them, will they not enter hell, unaware and comfortable, until they hit the flames?

As difficult as it is, we absolutely must pray for circumstances that are many times difficult and grievous, if that’s what it will take to bring them to repentance, rather than see our loved ones end up in hell fire forever, without reprieve!

Some of the hardest people to speak to about the Lord are those who insist they are already saved and they have no need to repent, but they are living in a state of willful sin.

The Word of God is very clear; the unrighteous shall not enter the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9). We are not saved by works, only the grace of God. Albeit, when the Lord saves us, He calls us out of sin. He doesn’t save us from sin, only to see us return to darkness and “crucify Him afresh” (Hebrews 6:6).

The Apostle Paul said,

“If we sin willfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins” Hebrews 10:26.

In other words, it is only when we repent and forsake our sins, we will be forgiven by God.

The Word also tells us,

“My little children, these things I write to you, that you sin not; and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 John 2:1.

This teaching is very clear. We are not to sin, but if we fall, we need to repent; we have an advocate with the Father.

However, if we repent, but continue in sin, there is no more “sacrifice” for those sins in Christ Jesus, because we sin willfully. We can be forgiven again, but we need to repent. Still, we are not to continue willfully in sin.

There is a strong and definite difference between being overcome in a moment of weakness, and repenting afterwards; and living in a state of willful sin, perhaps repenting, but continuing in that same sin.

Regardless of the condition of our loved ones who aren’t saved, the important thing for us to do in this hour is to make absolutely certain that we have done all within our power to present the gospel, and warn those living in sin who have already heard the gospel. Either way, whether it be to present the truth, or issue warnings, we have a grave responsibility before God to make certain we have done all we can do. God is our judge.

It is equally important to pray the appropriate prayers for our lost loved ones, as we are led of the Spirit of the Lord, lest we pray blessings upon those who actually need chastisement for the sake of their own spiritual awakening.

May the Lord bless you with boldness to present the gospel, or issue warnings, and may the peace of God be with those of you who fulfill His will in this.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining will also come to pass. Please don't neglect your eternal soul. If you aren't saved, I invite you to visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website.  God bless you.

________________________________________________

Screen shot: YouTube.com

A MESSAGE FROM GOD, YESTERDAY AND TODAY

A message from God was spoken through the mouth of Moses thousands of years ago, which still reverberates throughout the world today, which people can only hear with their spiritual ears:

“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day; and a curse, if you will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods which you have not known (actually can be anything placed in priority above God)” Deuteronomy 11:26-28.

The message still rings true today. Anyone who is willing to place God and His Commandments above all else, love Him first, and do according to His will, as it is written in His Holy Word, will be blessed, oh so blessed!  Many of the promised blessings are detailed in God's Holy Word.

Contrarily, those who defy the living God, do not fear Him, which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), and do not keep His Holy Commandments, as they are written in His Holy Word, will be cursed with an everlasting curse!

Under the New Covenant and dispensation of the mercy of God, however, there is a remedy extended to those who are living under the curse of the Law of God.

Because Jesus came and suffered and died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, we may now come boldly before the throne of God and repent of our sins, turn away from evil, and be blessed!

All is not lost if you have been living under a curse in this life, friend.

Jesus said,

“Come unto Me, all of you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls; for My yoke is easy and My burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30.

The Word of God tells us that the way of the transgressor is hard (Proverbs 13:15).

If you find yourself miserable, not prospering, losing on every hand, sad, heartbroken and on a path to destruction, look up to where your help will come from (Psalm 121:1).

The Lord looks down from heaven and searches for those who are His sheep and He has promised to bless them (Ezekiel 34:11). Once we repent of our sins, and forsake them, we are instantly His "sheep," His children (Proverbs 28:13).

Nevertheless, God is a gentle shepherd and He will never force the flock to come to Him; He waits patiently for us to heed His call:

“The Spirit (of God) and the Bride (His people) say, Come. Let him that hears say, Come. Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely” Revelation 22:17.

Jesus also said,

“Whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:26.

Jesus is referring to the fact that our spirits live on forever, and our bodies will also be raised up immortal during the resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). It is then that our spirits and bodies will again be reunited and we will live forever with an immortal body. 

Entering hell forever because of sins committed in this life is referred to as “eternal damnation” in the Word of God (Mark 3:29); but those who accept Jesus as their Savior will live in glory forever with Him; they will enter “eternal life” (Romans 6:23).

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining will also come to pass. Please don't neglect your eternal soul. If you aren't saved, I invite you to visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website.  God bless you.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THERE IS A LION OUT THERE!

The Word of God tells us that satan seeks to devour us like a roaring lion.

“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8.

Who is it that would not be afraid of a roaring lion rushing toward you?

Screen shot: YouTube.com

I can tell you, I would be, except by the supernatural power of God, if I had to confront him. First of all, I will avoid him with all of my soul, all of my heart, mind and strength!

Sometimes we have no choice but to confront the devil. We can see that example in David versus Goliath, the giant (nephilim - original Hebrew) who threatened Israel. David had the power of God with him, because he dwelt in the “Secret Place” of the Most High God (Psalms 91).

If you don’t dwell in the Secret Place, you had better call upon the name of the Lord fast, as you seek a hiding place from the enemy of your soul!

The key to abiding in the Secret Place is found primarily in Psalms 91:9, “Because you have made the Lord, even the Most High, your habitation;” and Psalms 91:14, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore, I will deliver him.” There are also other passages within that chapter, Psalms 91, which demonstrate to us how to gain the high favor of God and dwell in His Secret Place.

How can we make the Lord our habitation? We keep our minds fixed on Him (Isaiah 26:3), His ways, His commandments, His truth and His mighty presence with us at all times, as much as lies within us to do so.

The other major factor is setting our love upon Him. We might all know how to do that: “...let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Jesus explains in this passage of scripture that if we want to follow Him, we must deny ourselves:

“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” Matthew 16:24.  These are the conditions, friends.

Jesus also said,

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” John 14:15.

He said concerning some:

“This people draw nigh unto Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” Matthew 15:8.

The truth is that if we truly deny ourselves and seek after the Lord will all of our hearts, we don’t really lose anything at all, perhaps momentarily, for the Word of God tells us:

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” Matthew 6:33.  *It doesn’t happen instantly; faith and patience is involved.

Getting back to the lion...

Certainly, if any one of us sees a hungry, roaring lion coming at us, we are going to call on God and avoid the encounter with all that is within us.

Joseph was a good example of this avoidance. Joseph fled so fast from Potiphar’s wife, who wanted to commit adultery with him, that he fled, leaving his garment behind in her hands, as she grabbed his clothes. Potiphar’s wife used the garment against him, showing it to Potiphar's household, and she accused Joseph of trying to molest her, but he actually fled from her. Joseph ended up in prison for a while, and this is where the real test of faith comes in, but in the end, after he endured the trial with patience, Joseph became second in command under the King himself! You will have to read the entire account for yourself to appreciate the mighty, miracle-working hand of God in behalf of His elect, those who dwell in the Secret Place of the Most High (Genesis 39-41).

If we don’t study the Word of God diligently every day, keeping also a faithful prayer life before God, we become extremely weak, if not backslidden from God. Our physical bodies cannot survive without natural food, and our spiritual bodies cannot survive without spiritual food, which is the Word of the Most High God.

Jesus said,

“If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you” John 15:7.

We only abide in Christ, as we diligently study His Word and pray. The Word then abides in us and we will speak the Words of Christ, and God will honor those Words.

In summary, the spiritual lion is very real and he lurks ever near to find an avenue to devour you and your family.

As sure as the invisible hydrogen and the invisible oxygen, when they come together, bring forth water, which you can then see with your natural eyes, God and satan are very real. God is calling you to eternal life through the path that our Lord and Savior made for us, Jesus Christ, His Son. Satan, on the other hand, seeks to devour as many as he can, while there is still time.

The days have become so evil that, unless we seek to dwell in the Secret Place, we may be devoured.

The Word of God tells us,

“Except those days be shortened (the latter days – now), there should no flesh be saved, but for the elect’s sake, those days will be shortened...for there shall arise false Christs and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” Matthew 24:22,24.

Don’t think so? Do you believe God will hold you up no matter what you do, or how you live, because you once said a sinner’s prayer? Take note of this:

“Therefore, let him who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall” 1 Corinthians 10:12.

No one will be allowed to live in sin and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Word of God tells us,

“Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (men who act like women), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (men who sleep with men), nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

Take heed and warn your loved ones, because there is a lion out there!

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining shall surely come to pass. Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Screen shot: YouTube.com

THE FULL ARMOR

God takes care of His children on this earth, as much as we will allow Him to. He never forces His people to be obedient, but rather He has given us a free will and the ability to make choices.

Jesus said many times throughout His ministry, before ascending to the Father, to beware of deception.

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you, for many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many” Matthew 24:4-5.

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

“For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” Matthew 24:24.

So, we see here that, according to Matthew’s account in chapter 24 alone, Jesus warned His disciples not once, not twice, but three times to beware of false Christs and false prophets, who will do wonders in the last days, so much so that the very elect would be deceived, if possible.

The elect are those of us that attend to the Lord every day, nearly all day, in prayer, reading the Word, praise and worship and ministry. If you don’t fit into this category, all the more, take heed!

The devil is as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8.

A child of God has to “open the door” to deception, friends. We have protection, as children of God, and satan is not allowed to breach our armor, or break down our door. He can only get a foothold if we remove our armor, or fail to put it on daily, or open the door to him.

The enemy of our souls never gives up seeking a way to enter through the door that God has placed against him, or through a breach in the armor that God has given us to wear.

The armor of God consists of these: the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness (so much for those who don’t believe we can live righteous in this world), the sword of the Spirit, our loins girt about with truth, and our feet shod with the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:10-18).

We must be diligent and always on guard. There are, however, seasons of rest to the saints of God (Hebrews 4:9-11). I would describe these seasons as dwelling in the “Secret Place” of the Most High.

One doesn’t just slip right into the “Secret Place” as soon as they repent and receive salvation. The Apostle Paul explained to the Hebrews, “Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest...” Hebrews 4:11.

What is the Secret Place?

The Secret Place of the Most High is explained by King David in Psalms 91. If you read the chapter, you will discover that those who enter the Secret Place of the Most High, abiding under His shadow, are those who “make the Lord, even the Most High, their habitation” and who “set their love upon Him.” In other words, you are so in love with the Lord that you are always thinking about Him, nearly always praying, or talking to Him, studying His Word, or praising Him, making the Lord your first and foremost priority above all things, so much so, that He is your habitation = the Secret Place. Come to this holy, holy place with God and you will have rest to your soul and many benefits, as described in Psalms 91.

Jesus said,

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with Me” Revelation 3:20.

The Lord wants to “sup” with you as often as you will open the door to Him.

On the other hand, how does one open the door to satan? Watching secular television for hours; drinking liquor; smoking; taking drugs (can also be prescribed drugs); listening to secular music (there are evil spirits associated with many types of music, other than gospel); obsessions, such as obsessive cleaning, obsessive eating, obsessively watching TV; obsessively shopping and spending, etc; focusing on the material things of this world and pride, whereas our focus should be the Lord, and all other things will be provided.

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” Matthew 6:33.

Certainly, we are to live in this world, shop for those things that we have need of, take care of those things the Lord has provided, cleaning the home, our clothes, the yards, etc; but we need to place God first in our lives and these other things will be a breeze. I do these chores much of the time while praying or singing hymns.

In fact, it never ceases to amaze me that when I determine to pray and read the Word first, I can quickly get the other things done that I need to do. When I have failed to put the things of God first, I can’t seem to get those things done that I sacrificed God’s time to get done. It never fails!

We always need to bear in mind that satan appears as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). He is not always going to attack on the premise of evil. He will disguise himself as one, for example, who needs help, or who presents as a “lover,” or who even presents himself as an aid in the time of trouble – beware!

If that person, or that opportunity, or that pitiful one comes along, but there is any possibility that they are involved in evil, or the appearance of evil, or perhaps they appear to need help, but they aren’t saved – beware! Yes, we are to help the lost materially, as well as spiritually, but allow a brother to help males, and a sister to help females, etc.

Notice also that the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-35) did not take the stranger home with him, but he helped him, purchased a room for him and gave provision elsewhere. He wanted to help the man who had been robbed and beaten, but he didn’t really know him, if he was evil, or a godly man. He didn’t risk bringing an unsaved, wicked person into his home to jeopardize himself, or his family, but he provided for him other facilities and provision. That was the wise thing to do. 

The saints of God can give to ministries that are set up to provide food, shelter and clothing to the poor and minister to them spiritually; but we should never take someone from the street and bring them home. That would be foolish. There are ministries and government programs in place to help the poor and homeless. If God speaks to you and tells you to bring someone home, that would be an exception. (He will never tell a woman who lives alone to bring a man home; and He will never tell a man who lives alone to bring a woman home.)

Jesus said,

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves” Matthew 10:16.

Be diligent, faithful, at peace, long-suffering, meek, gentle and wise. Always put God first and foremost in your life, living prayerfully and studying His Word, and you can dwell in the Secret Place of the Most High.

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining shall surely come to pass. Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

All written publications on this site may be copied and shared for evangelistic and educational purposes. Did Jesus say, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature --- and make sure you copyright it?!" I think not.

God bless you with the Light of the world.

* Please provide attribution to this site via link. *

Screen shot: YouTube.com

God said that David had a heart after His own heart (Acts 13:22), and God has loved David so much that He promised him that he would be a prince and shepherd over His people forever (Ezekiel 34:23-24).

It was David who wrote Psalms 91, which includes the most profound promises to God’s people (who dwell in the secret place of the Most High) ever written, aside from our promise of salvation and the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2).

Christians often muse why God seems to fulfill the promises written in Psalms 91 for some, but not others; why He heals some, but not others; why He baptizes some with the gift of the Holy Ghost, but not others.

First, we need to know that God is no “respecter of persons;” He does not favor one person over another. However, our humility, prayer life, perhaps fasting and giving ourselves to seeking God in certain ways, can bring about God’s attention to our attentions given to Him. His Word says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...” James 4:8. Since the crucifixion of Christ, everyone has equal access to God through our heavenly High Priest, Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, who is our intercessor at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34).

Some Christians are captivated by the Lord and praise Him and seek His presence often; others don’t give God much of the time of day, unless they need something. Who will receive more of God’s attention?

God will do for one, what He does for another, but many are simply not willing to commune with God with a pure heart before Him.

There are many promises written in the Word of God, which were not made to particular individuals, but rather all of God’s people. For example, He did not say, “With His stripes Lucy was healed.” This promise written in Isaiah 53:5 was written to all of us, “With his stripes we are healed.” So, why doesn’t everyone get healed? Jesus said if we have faith as in a grain of mustard seed, we can receive the answers to our prayers (Luke 17:6). This wasn’t written so anyone and everyone can just say something and it will be done. Do you believe a wicked person can say, “In the name of Jesus, I am healed,” and it will be so?

Jesus healed people who weren’t saved, but the Bible bears out the fact that they were ready to believe and be saved, so He healed them and said their sins were forgiven (Matthew 9:1-8).

There is no passage of scripture that says the wicked were healing the sick, or healing themselves. Satan, however, is a mocker, an imitator, and he appears as an “angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14-15). By the way, are you aware of the fact that chemotherapy is a carcinogen? Are you aware that manufactured medicines all have adverse side effects? Natural medicinals derived from plants, herbs and foods, however, are not carcinogens and generally have no adverse side effects, unless taken with something else that might cause an adverse reaction. I’ll let you contemplate those facts and come to your own conclusion. Oh, and by the way, are you aware that hemp (cannabis) oil, derived from the marijuana plant, which does not produce a “high” taken in this form, cures just about everything? It has been outlawed due to the lobbying of Big Pharma, which would rather sell you carcinogens that will end up killing you, if the disease doesn't kill you, for A BIG FAT PROFIT, rather than see you cured by a natural plant that God placed on the earth for us, just because some people have smoked the leaves to get high. They also have their depopulation agenda to be concerned about. Leave it to the devil and his cohorts to rob people of God’s blessings.

I might as well throw in the fact that medical malpractice is the 3^RD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH in the United States.

Christians also have a very bad habit of comparing themselves with other Christians, and the experiences of others with their own experiences. The Word of God, however, tells us NOT to do that (2 Corinthians 10:12), lest we end up comparing ourselves and our situations with people who have a heart of unbelief, and thereby justifying our own unbelief; not even realizing the person we are comparing ourselves to has an unbelieving heart. None of us know another person’s heart, no matter how well we believe we know another person. If we compare ourselves with someone who appears outwardly holy, but has sin in their heart, we can end up walking the wrong path in the end. We are only to compare ourselves with the Holy Word of God.

The wonderful promises written in Psalms 91 were written specifically for those who “dwell in the secret place of the Most High.” If you don’t understand what that means, then you need a more intimate relationship with God. He is open to it, are you?

If you want to dwell in the secret place of the Most High, make Him your "habitation;" read His Word and pray for the understanding of it and God will answer that prayer; He promised (James 1:5), and spend as much time with Him as you can, learning at His feet. He is most happy to teach you. One of His blessed titles is Rabboni, meaning Teacher.

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining shall surely come to pass. Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

 

THE FOCUS WASN’T ON TRUE HOLINESS

I was raised in a Pentecostal “holiness” church and I have attended holiness churches most of my life. Nevertheless, looking back over the years, I believe a major component was missing much of the time.

First, I have to give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7). I appreciate all of those messages I heard in church about abstaining from the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22), separating ourselves from the world (Romans 12:2), forsaking not the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25), to have faith and do good works (James 2:18), etc. Wonderful, must have teachings.

As I have grown older and closer to the Lord over the years, I have learned more of the deep things of the Spirit, which God teaches His children “one on one.”

Sitting at Jesus’s feet, I have learned the sanctity of giving and praise, which most churches would actually balk at today.

In one instance, Jesus gave me a lesson during my “one on one” Bible study with Him. At that time, the church was preparing for a “basket auction” to raise money and women in the local churches were creating baskets to auction at a district meeting. I committed to purchasing some things for the basket and I thought auctioning baskets was a nice fund-raising venture; but the Lord ministered some deep things of the Spirit to me about the “basket auction,” as I studied and prayed.

Jesus pointed out to me certain issues about auctioning these baskets in His sanctuary that weren’t becoming to the saints of God.

First, He explained to me that those pledging money to make the highest bid had their minds on winning a basket; their hearts were not being encouraged to focus on the sacrifice of giving from the heart, which is what God is looking for.

Second, He explained to me that the highest bidders would likely be those who had the most money. He reminded me that the poorest among us would never win a basket to take home, but the poorest among us could use the items placed in the baskets more than anyone else there.

Third, as people are being encouraged to “bid offerings” in order to win the baskets, they aren’t, in those instances, giving a sanctified offering, dedicated, sanctified unto the Lord. They, in those instances, are giving to get something, giving for gain, which is an abomination in His sight.

Fourth, as auctions and such open displays of giving are conducted in churches, they stink in the nostrils of God. Jesus told me we are to give privately and the Lord will reward us openly (Matthew 6:4). In fact, the offering box should be placed at the exit, where people can give privately as they leave. Sticking offering plates under the noses of parishioners, intimidating them to give, is not how God wants collections to be taken in the churches.

Men are afraid that if offering plates aren’t shoved under the noses of parishioners, they will leave without giving an offering on their way out, which is very good in the sight of God, for He doesn’t want their money with a begrudging heart; He wants their sacrificial gift from their hearts, which sanctifies the offering.

Churches would be abundantly blessed financially, if they collected offerings in God’s way, not their own way. Nevertheless, men don’t have enough faith these days to rely on the God they “serve;” they find it necessary to come up with their own schemes and devices in order to maneuver the people and outmaneuver God. In the end, they shortchange the saints and short change the work of God, but their eyes are blind to it. 

I was quite stunned, as the Lord revealed to me that this type of “fund raising” has no place in the House of God. The gathering of the saints is a holy convocation unto the Lord, but these activities are not holy in God’s House; He despises them.

Obedience, friends, is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).

The word of God tells us,

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” Proverbs 14:12.

It is the flesh of men, not the Spirit leading, that contrives such events for the gathering of the saints, in the name of “giving.”

Some might argue that the children have to be able to delight themselves in activities at church, since they are only children, and we can’t continually bore them with adult content.

This is very true and exactly why the Apostle Paul wrote,

Parents need to make certain that they are not requiring children to act like adults in adult settings. It is good for children, for a limited period of time, to observe the holy convocation of adults, prayer and small segments of adult teaching, so as to slowly integrate them into the deeper things of God. Overall, however, children need to be allowed to participate in entertainment structured learning sessions, including participating in “hands on” instruction, such as plays, game-based learning and the like.

As Paul wrote, however, “...when I became an adult, I put away childish things.”

God is looking down to examine our hearts, to examine how much we desire to learn from his Word, how we live in the privacy of our homes and out on the streets, and how we approach the House of God with our worship and giving.

These have all been derived by men for the pleasure of men and have nothing to do with the holy convocation of the gathering of saints in the House of God.

The children of God need to take a thorough study of God’s Holy Word, with their hearts and minds laid out before God, and find out what true worship and holiness is, and not rely on the traditions of men.

Entering into His courts with praise, thanksgiving and offerings from the heart are the elements of worship and the gathering together of the saints.

In fact, nothing else will do; nothing else will be accepted.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” Colossians 2:8.

May the Lord bless you with true holiness.

“...Be ye holy, for I am holy” 1 Peter 1:16.

“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” 1 Thessalonians 4:7.

__________________________________________________________________________________

OR

Screen shots: YouTube.com

WHAT ARE YOU PRAYING FOR?

When God set young Solomon on the throne of David, He asked Solomon what he wanted from Him.

God’s question to Solomon was, in essence, similar to the story of the genie in a bottle, only the question God posed to Solomon was, “Ask what I shall give you.” It wasn’t limited to three items only, but very open-ended. Solomon was free to ask God for whatever he wanted at the moment.

First, before assessing Solomon’s response, it is important to consider who Solomon’s father was and in what manner Solomon was raised as a child. Solomon’s father was King David and the Holy Word of God tells us that David had a heart after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). We can certainly believe that David prayed unto the Lord, asking Him to give his son wisdom, and David raised Solomon in the admonition of the Lord.

Having the right foundation, being brought up with God’s Holy Word, Solomon considered very wisely his answer to God. He asked the Lord for Wisdom and knowledge to rule the kingdom God set him over:

“And Solomon said unto God, You have shown great mercy unto David my father and have made me to reign in his stead. Now, oh Lord God, let Your promise unto David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can judge this Your people that is so great?” 2 Chronicles 1:8-10.

God’s response to Solomon is wonderful; He was so pleased with Solomon’s wise request:

This event was written in the Holy Word of God for our learning (Romans 15:4). Solomon’s interaction with God at that time is an example of God’s very question to all of humanity.

Joshua’s announcement to God’s people in Shechem, “...choose this day whom you will serve...” (Joshua 24:15) is the question presented to all who live upon the face of the earth.

What are you praying for today? Does your heart long for a high paying job, status in the world, a bigger apartment or house, wealth beyond your imagination, recognition of the people; or the favor of God and the bestowment of His promises?

What is your priority, bigger, better, greater, more of everything for yourself; or to share with the poor, downcast, destitute, widows, orphans, and to have all of your needs met by God, “according to His riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19).

We all have a choice. We can be satisfied with having our needs met by God, according to His riches; or we can strive for our own selfish gain, popularity, comfort and excesses.

The scriptures further expound on the heart of God and what choice we should make:

What are you praying for today?

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said,

What will we be able to take from this earth to the grave with us, if God calls us to our eternal destiny today? This is the question all of us need to face, and it’s all the more important now, in that we are living in the last days, friends.

The Apostle James wrote,

James prophesied here of the last days and the selfishness of rich men, who have no consideration for the day and hour in which we live, but rather heap to themselves excess to their own destruction in the end.

We don’t have much time to redeem the time; the hour is upon us. We all need to ask ourselves if we are looking forward to storing up useless treasures on earth; or if we will be thankful to God for supplying all of our needs and share what we have, building up treasures, not in this world, but in the world that will last forever.

Screen shot: YouTube.com

Living Godly In Christ Jesus

The doctrine is based primarily on a few selective scriptures and one of them is, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who believes not shall be damned” Mark 16:16.

It is true, we must believe to be saved. That scripture cannot be separated from the rest of God’s Word, nevertheless.

The Word of God also tells us, “You believe that there is One God; you do well. The devils also believe and tremble” James 2:19.

Do you think devils are saved and going to heaven because they “believe?” There isn’t a chance (2 Peter 2:4). Does the Word of God, then, contradict itself? Never. We must simply, by the power of the Holy Spirit, “rightly divide” (2 Timothy 2:15) the Word of Truth; which means no one scripture is of private interpretation, but they all must be compared with one another in order to come to the proper interpretation. In other words, certain scriptures cannot be selected out and isolated from the rest of the Bible.

The Word of God tells us, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” 2 Peter 1:20. 

Also, and most importantly, God’s Holy Word can only be interpreted by the Holy Spirit, those who are led of the Spirit. The Holy Word of God tells us,

Evil men, with wicked hearts, desiring to do evil and get away with it, will misinterpret the Holy Word of God. They are famous for frequently misinterpreting the following scripture:

“I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 8:38-39.

The ungodly will say that since nothing can separate us from the love of God, sin can’t separate us from the love of God either. Notice, brethren, that sin is not listed in the above scripture. In fact, there are many scriptures that demonstrate to us clearly that sin will separate us from God on Judgment Day.

Here is a prime example, given by Jesus Himself, of people, who on the Judgment Day proclaim to be holy and righteous, but Jesus will reveal the truth:

“Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore, by their fruits (deeds), you shall know them (the children of God). Not everyone that says unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that DOES THE WILL of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day (Judgment Day), Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and in your name have cast out devils and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you that work iniquity’” Matthew 7:19-23.

It is obvious here that “many” people will think themselves to be saved on Judgment Day, but Jesus will deny them, because they “work iniquity.” They obviously believed in Jesus, because they declared they did good works in His name. It is very apparent that the sins of these people separated them from God. Obviously, many things cannot separate God’s people from His love, but sin will separate us from God, and the Bible is very clear about that fact.

The Holy Word of God also tells us about false preachers,

“While they promise them liberty (freedom to sin), they themselves are the servants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage; for if after they have escaped the pollutions of this world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning; for it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 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 2:19-22. (“As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly” Proverbs 26:11.)

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments" 1 John 2:1-3.

It is important to note here that if we sin, we need only repent and God will forgive us, as stated above. There is, however, a difference between living continuously in a state of sin, versus living for and following Christ, but falling down in a time of weakness. There is no remission of sin if we continuously live in that state (Hebrews 10:26). If we fall, we must repent and do our best to abstain from sin. God knows our hearts. 

“No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” Matthew 6:24.

Do you believe God, or John Calvin?!

The Word of God tells us,

“And no marvel, for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” 2 Corinthians 11:14.

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away” 2 Timothy 3:5.

Denying the power of what? He is speaking here of “godliness,” having a form of it, but denying the power to live godly. God has promised us the power to live godly in Christ Jesus:

“According as His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue" 2 Peter 1:3.

Anyone who seeks to deny this truth is a liar.

“Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (men emulating women), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (men lying with men – see Leviticus 18:22), nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth, which is after godliness" Titus 1:1.

The TRUTH is after what? GODLINESS; not having once said a sinner’s prayer, then continuing to live like the devil!

Screen shot: YouTube.com

HOSPICE FOR THE SOUL

The first time I came face-to-face with one who was departing this world was the day my beloved grandmother passed on. My grandmother had been diagnosed with cancer in 1979, and she passed on the following year. I wasn’t able to see her often at that time because of my work responsibilities, but God granted her and me the blessed gift of being together on the day she passed on to be with the Lord.

During her last days, I was with her periodically and I noticed there were times when she expressed terror of death. God not only made a way for me to be with my grandmother on the day she passed on, but He anointed me to speak peace into her soul during the process. I never cease to thank God, when I think about it, that He granted me that special invaluable time with her during her last hours here on this earth.

The reason my grandmother suffered some bouts of terror is that she didn’t surrender her life to the Lord, until she understood she was departing this world. She finally turned to the Lord with her whole heart in the end, and God was truly merciful to her.

The Holy Word of God tells us,

“You, beloved, build up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost” Jude 1:20.

As servants of the Most High God, we are taught in His Holy Word to pray and build up our most holy faith. Those who spend a good portion of their lives not living for God and not praying, have not had the opportunity to built up their holy faith. 

My great grandmother was a saint of God, who prayed many years for my grandmother to be saved. My grandmother knew the truth, having heard it all her life, and in the end, she repented and surrendered her whole heart to the Lord, because she knew full well that heaven, and hell, were very real places. 

The last time I visited my grandmother, I knew she was leaving for “home” that day. My mother didn't know this, but I was able to see it in the Spirit. I tried to tell my mother, but she really didn’t believe me, so she continued cleaning the house and she wasn’t with my grandmother when she passed on. I stayed with my grandmother and the Lord anointed me to speak comforting words to her, until she drew her last breath in this world. I am so grateful to Him for that.

I told my grandmother that she was not alone in what she was going through, and I told her that the rest of us would soon follow her and we would all be together in heaven shortly. This was very true; I did not lie to her. How long do you suppose I have lived since my grandmother passed on in 1980 - compared to eternity? A nanosecond! That’s right, even a 100-year lifespan is “but a vapor” compared to ETERNITY.

The Holy Word of God tells us,

“You do not know what will happen tomorrow, for what is your life? It is even a vapor, which appears for a little time and then vanishes away” James 4:14.

Summary of Truth: You have about a nanosecond of existence here to repent, tell the Lord you surrender your life to Him and that you accept His gift of eternal life; or you will fulfill the lusts of your flesh for about a nanosecond -  compared to eternity - to “enjoy the pleasures sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25), but end up in hell forever thereafter. What a devastating, everlasting error!

First, it is imperative that the departing receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior - the giver of eternal life - if they don’t know Him already.

The Lord Jesus, Son of the Living God, paid the penalty of death for all of the sins of mankind at the cross of Calvary about 2,000 years ago, so all who will, can repent of their sins and receive His sacrifice as the penalty paid for their sins. Once a person receives Christ, knowing all of their sins are forgiven, this begins the peace process within their heart.

Second, the departing need to be told they are not alone in passing from this life. God is with them and He has removed the “sting of death” (1 Corinthians 15:55-56), and they also need to hear that you will be right behind them.

They really need to hear that they are not alone as they pass from this life. In all truth, you can comfort your loved one who is leaving this world (if they have received Jesus as their Savior), by telling them you are going to be right behind them soon and there will be a great and joyful reunion in heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Remind your loved one that all of our lives here on this earth last only what can be considered a nanosecond - compared to eternity.

These words will comfort those departing if they have received Jesus Christ as their Savior.

God has called me to provide “hospice for the soul” for those who are departing.

The Lord also graciously arranged for me to be at my mother’s home on the very day she suddenly fell from a brain aneurysm and passed on later that day in 1996. I will always be grateful to the Lord for allowing me to be there that day, and God also gave me comforting words to speak to my mother, as she departed.

My mother was unconscious after she was rushed to the hospital, but testimonials prove to us that, as long as there is life left in the body, hearing seems to be the last sense to go. As she lay in the hospital bed, I told my mother how very much I loved and appreciated her. Since my mother already knew the Lord, I just reminded her at that critical time how we would forever be together with the Lord soon.

The same thing happened when my beloved son passed from this life. I was with him and I spoke comforting words to him as he departed in peace. Invaluable; I wouldn't trade anything for that precious time with my son. I told him that if the Lord took him, I would be right behind him and we would forever be together (2 Kings 22:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Summary of Truth: There is no time with God; there are no time constraints in heaven. Those of us who are going there, are actually already there, we just haven't experienced it in this dimension - yet!

These three, my grandmother, my mother and my son, left this world in perfect peace. I worked in hospitals for years before I worked in government. I also ministered to convalescing patients on the weekends for more than 20 years. I have seen people depart who were saved, as well as those who were not saved. There is no comparison.

“Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes unto the Father, but by Me” John 14:6.

“Whosoever lives and believes in Me (Jesus) shall never die (eternal death). Do you believe this?” John 11:26.

The shedding of this flesh is not real death. The people of God actually never die.

The Holy Word of God tells us,

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” 2 Corinthians 5:8.

Apostle Paul confirmed right here that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, if you are a child of God.

If we are saved when we shed off this mortal flesh, our spirit and soul separate from the flesh and immediately appear in heaven.

“In the beginning was the Word (which is Jesus – John 1:14), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1.

“The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow...” Hebrews 4:12.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Word, and when He speaks, at the departure of this flesh, His Word divides our soul and spirit from our (flesh) joints and marrow, and the soul and spirit appear before God immediately, but the flesh is left behind, temporarily, in the grave. Our souls and spirit are very much alive with God, until the Resurrection Day (Day of Remembrance - Yom HaZikaron) for the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)!

Comfort your loved ones with these words.

If you aren’t saved, there’s no time to lose. Life is but a nanosecond!

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining shall surely come to pass. Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Screen shot: YouTube.com

THE CUP OF INIQUITY IS FULL - THE HOUR IS AT HAND

• Muslims are butchering, beheading, crucifying, burning alive, burying alive, stoning, and torturing Christians, Jews, homosexuals...all non-Muslims throughout the Middle East, yet the great nations of the world are ignoring it!

·       In 2012, France and other nations set about to remove the words “mother” and “father” from all government documents, so to appease the liberal left and make the abominable more comfortable.

·        America’s public schools began teaching little children, at least 10 years old, step-by-step, how to commit sodomy, as part of their abominable sex “education” curriculum; which is nothing more than child abuse, pornography and an abomination, according to God’s Holy Word (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:25-28)!

·        Social Services in America, and in other nations, adopt children to homosexuals in recent years. Some of these couples are already reprobate, according to the Word of God, and none should ever be able to adopt a child!

·        Planned Parenthood and other vile clinics have burned, chopped and even extracted live babies from their mother’s wombs, dissecting them to harvest tissue and organs for their abominable experiments and biological research!

·        My income is considered to be under the poverty level, but my tax bill this year exceeded what some multi-billion-dollar corporations pay (nothing!), because the perverse have enforced policies to rob the poor, and make the rich wealthier. (God takes very good care of me, because I pay my tithes and offerings first; He takes care of the rest! Glory to His most Holy Name [Malachi 3:8-12])!

·        The great nations throughout the world, instead of fighting against them, have released millions of Muslim jihadis into the nations to perpetrate evil upon their own citizens. They aid the terrorists; they use them as a way to meet their end – global tyranny!

I could go on and on...

Throughout the Old Testament, which foreshadows the New Testament, we see that when a nation’s cup of iniquity became full, God poured out His wrath upon the wicked, but spared the Godly, as in the following examples: the flood and Noah and his family; Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot and his family; the Egyptians and Moses and the Children of Israel; and Jericho and Joshua and the Children of Israel.

Has God stopped sparing the righteous and destroying the wicked? Don’t even give it a thought, for the Bible tells us,

“The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.

This catching up of the saints of God will occur, then the great tribulation will come upon the earth, according to Bible prophecy. The prophecies are found in the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 26:20); the Book of Daniel (Daniel 2-12); the Book of Joel (Joel 1-3); the Book of Malachi (Malachi 3-4); the Book of Matthew (Matthew 24); the Book of 1 Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:12-58); the Book of 1 Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9; 4:16-18); the Book of Revelation (Revelation 7:14).

It takes the Spirit of God to interpret the Word of God (1 Corinthians 2:14), so it is vital to pray for divine interpretation before reading God’s Holy Word (James 1:5). If you look to understand through a minister, it is crucial to compare what the minister says with God’s Holy Word.

The wrath of God is coming, folks, but you won’t hear that truth from most major ministries today. In fact, you will hear one of the most notable of them say about homosexuality, as he is questioned about whether or not a homosexual can be saved, “It’s not my way,” fully evading the question. Of late, he goes further to say that he doesn’t judge them either.

Who cares what your way is, Osteen? How about GOD’S way? Do you know anything at all about that?

Here, let me help you with the Holy Word of God. It says,

“You shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind, it is an abomination” Leviticus 18:22.

Yes, it’s also in the New Testament (Romans 1:25-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9; God doesn’t change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Most adults can say they have read dozens of books. There is only One Book, however, that points the way to God, salvation and eternal life. People need to make certain they read that Book for themselves, praying first and asking God for the divine interpretation.

Yes, the Bible tells us to hear preachers, but Jesus also said many times, “Beware of false prophets” (Matthew 7:15; Matthew 24:11; Matthew 24:24...).

If you don’t know what God’s Holy Word says for yourself, how can you know who is a false prophet?

Hear the preacher, but also know the Word of God for yourself; this is the message Jesus is conveying.

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining shall surely come to pass. Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Screen shot: YouTube.com

WALKING BY FAITH, not by sight

Have you given up on God’s healing power? Have you given up on the promises of God provided in His Holy Word? Have you reached a point where you believe sometimes God doesn’t want to heal you, or your loved one, or possibly only the apostles could receive the gift of healing? If one these questions strikes a cord in your heart today, God inspired me to write this message for you.

Neighbors used to visit my great grandmother’s home to request that she pray for them, because it was known by those who were familiar with her, that Grandma Brown could pray the prayer of faith and see people healed.

Even my mother’s mother-in-law, who really didn’t like my mother’s family at all, and who also wasn’t a Christian, went to Grandma Brown’s house one day to request prayer. My mother’s mother-in-law received some unnerving news from the doctor, so she headed to Grandma Brown’s house for prayer!

I am going to lay out some very important truth in this message today, as instructed by the Lord, and those of you who visit this page will either rejoice, recognize the Word of Truth, and begin a journey of faith, if you haven't done so already; or you will toss this off as nonsense and walk away from it, missing out on tremendous spiritual blessings.

For those of you who are earnestly seeking truth, here it is:

Many, many people have walked out of prayer lines and churches as sick, or as in need, as they went in asking for prayer. Some concluded that God isn’t in the “healing business” today. Some concluded that others might be healed, but for whatever reason, “It isn’t His will to heal me.” Some went away bitter and decided God isn’t real.

Every one of the people in these categories are wrong.

Here is the Word of God; you can decide for yourself:

“Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him” Hebrews 10:38.

Notice, the Word tells us that the just shall live by faith. Sinners do not live by faith. Sinners do not have the “gift of faith,” or the “gift of healing” (1 Corinthians 12:9). So, if you believe in Calvinism, whereby you can live like the devil, but remain saved because you prayed a “sinner’s prayer” at one time; forget it. The gifts of the Spirit are not going to operate in you, or through you. You could be living a deception, or you could be healed, so you will repent and live according to God's commandments. If you continue in sin, however, a worse thing many come upon you (John 5:14).

“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward; for you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise, for yet a little while and He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry” Hebrews 10:35-37.

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who DILIGENTLY seek Him” Hebrews 11:6.

“Jesus turned Himself about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; YOUR faith has made you whole, and the woman was made whole from that hour” Matthew 9:22.

“He who eats and drinks unworthily (communion), eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body; for this cause, many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (die), for if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged” 1 Corinthians 11:29-31.

“Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness, by Whose stripes you were healed” 1 Peter 2:24.

“Let no man deceive you by any means, for that Day (return of the Lord) shall not come, except there come a falling away (original Greek - apostasy) first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (antichrist)” 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

It is obvious to see that the Holy Word of God tells us it is His will to heal us; He made no exceptions. Jesus commissioned His disciples to heal the sick; He didn’t say just some of the sick.

God doesn’t always manifest healing immediately. One time, even Jesus had to lay His hands on a blind man twice in order to see the full manifestation of healing (Mark 8:23-25). If you, or someone else, prayed and you didn’t see the manifestation immediately, but you are ready to walk away and resign, “God didn’t heal me;” forget it. You have given up; you lack the faith to be healed, so you won’t be healed. You are walking by sight. It is imperative to maintain the promise of God until it manifests - however long it takes - without wavering.

Image credit: Biblicalwallpapers.wordpress.com

Nevertheless, you can start your walk of faith once again; all is not lost.

The Lord is a “rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). The Word does NOT tell us that He is a rewarder of those who pray once and give up! Diligence means unfailing, unwavering, persistent, tireless, zealous, dedicated, not giving up - never!

Don’t expect anyone else to have faith for your need. It could happen, if the saint of God is endowed with the gifts of faith and healing, but it is critical that the person who needs God’s blessing has the faith to receive it. Jesus said to the woman with the issue of blood, “Be of good comfort; your faith has made you whole” (Matthew 9:22).

There are a lot of people complaining that God isn’t performing miracles today; He isn’t real; His Holy Word is ancient and of no effect today. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Many of God's people lack patience.

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint" Isaiah 40:31.

The Holy Word of God tells us,

“God forbid; yes, let God be true, but every man a liar...” Romans 3:4.

The crux of the whole matter is that if every man on earth turns into a liar, the Holy Word of God is TRUE. If you believe that, you have a firm foundation in faith.

In other words, if everything you see around you suggests God’s Holy Word is false, let everything in the world be a hoax, but God is true, God is faithful, God’s Holy Word stands true forever and ever!

This is walking by faith, not by sight. God will honor the one who stands firm in his faith, when the entire world full of devils, hate, false reports, apostates, liars and deceivers say His Word has failed and you have lost your mind!

I could go on and on, pages and pages, but the summary of all of this is, how many people, even ministers today, do you know who are standing firmly on what God’s Holy Word says? I can tell you of a certainty that we are living in the last days of the “falling away;” and more often than not, you will see that even preachers trust more in sorcery (original Greek – pharmakei = drugs) than they do God’s Holy Word. Is it any wonder why we don’t see more of the miraculous healing today, as we did even half a century ago?

Jesus said,

“Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” Matthew 24:12.

Love of what? What was Christ referring to? The love of women? The love of money? The love of life? No, no, no. He was referring to the love of God; a passion for God; being sold out to God; being very much in love with God Almighty, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)!

Every morning, I surrender all. I surrender all of my heart, all of my soul, all of my mind, all of my spirit, all of my body, all of my strength to God – everything! I surrender to Him all that He has lent to me in this life – all belongs to Him. On that basis, I start my day and God walks with me and He talks to me.

Go with God – all the way – and nothing shall be withheld from you that your heart desires.

“Wait on the Lord; be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord” Psalm 27:14.

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining shall surely come to pass. Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

__________________________________________________________________________________

After I awoke, as I thought about the dream, the Lord ministered to my heart that this “preacher” is a “tare” in the church.

The Word of God tells us concerning the “tares,”

“Let both grow together (tares and wheat) until the harvest, and in the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, Gather together first the tares and bind them in bundles to BURN them, but gather the wheat into my barn...; as, therefore, the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world” Matthew 13:30, 40.

God’s all-seeing eyes see everything, folks. People, some who call themselves Christians and even pastors, believe they are getting away with sin, but sin brings forth death (James 1:15), eternal spiritual death. No one is getting away with anything. Some don’t believe a person can backslide, but the ancient history of Israel proves differently. Everything written in the Old Testament is a shadow of things to come and the New Testament.

The Word of God tells us,

“Do you not know that the unrighteous shall NOT inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (men acting like women – transgenders), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (men sleeping with men - homosexuality)...Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid...Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is without the body, but he who commits fornication sins against his own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:9,15,18.

Is God just “beating the wind” with His Holy Word? Many people who go about their own pernicious ways in this world will be very shocked on Judgment Day. God does not lie. The "tares" will be cast into the FIRE - forever (Revelation 20:14-15)!

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining will surely come to pass. Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

 Screen shot: YouTube.com

EVERYONE IS TRIED IN THE FIRE

The Word of God tells us that every one of God’s people will be tried, tested, if you will. The righteous man, Job, said, “He knows the way I take, when He has tried me; I shall come forth as gold” Job 23:10.

King David said, “For You, O God, have proved us; You have tried us, as silver is tried” Psalm 66:10.

The Prophet Daniel said, “Many shall be purified and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand” Daniel 12:10.

The Prophet Zechariah said, “And I will bring the third part through the fire and will refine them, as silver is refined, and will try them, as gold is tried; they shall call on My name and I will hear them. I will say, They are My people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God” Zechariah 13:9.

The Apostle James said, “Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him” James 1:12.

Jesus said, “I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich and clothed in white raiment, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” Revelation 3:18.

The message is this: God’s people will be tried in the fire and purified, as gold.

The Apostle Paul said, “Yes, and all who will LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS shall suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3:12.

There are a lot of Calvinists out there who not only back away from the word “godly,” but they surely wouldn’t want to hear a message about suffering for Christ. I will use Joel Osteen’s church as an example. I don’t think we would ever hear him preach a sermon about ALL of us who are “in Christ” suffering persecution. He doesn’t even preach about abstinence from sin, let alone persecution. His church is not exclusive; there are many like it today, Rick Warren’s church, and many who are Calvinists by faith, “once saved, always saved,” and those who “return to the vomit” (2 Peter 2:22).

Those who believe they can live according to the “flesh,” satisfying the lusts of the flesh, and believe they will also receive the reward of heaven, because they repented of sin sometime in the past, are definitely not planning on suffering any persecution, because they aren’t interested in denying the lusts of the flesh, or living godly.

The reason I find this interesting is because there are so many scriptures in the Word of God which tell us otherwise, and inform us in advance that we “will suffer persecution.”

Many will not suffer a martyr’s death, prison, or even ridicule, because possibly their labor for Christ doesn’t involve working in the public spotlight, per se. Albeit, we will all suffer persecution in some manner, or other, if we “live godly,” according to Paul’s testimony in 2 Timothy 3:12.

How so?

If we truly live “godly,” we will also deny ourselves many things in the world that most people consider to be common things, i.e.: staying glued to the TV; watching other than “G” rated movies, or spending too much time watching movies; drinking alcohol; going to bars, or other ungodly places; taking drugs; internet addiction; watching porn; cursing; gossiping; backbiting; casting judgment on others, without knowing their hearts; basically, living worldly lives in many ways. If you have denied yourself these things in today’s world, you are perhaps suffering in the "flesh," and you are probably ostracized by many others, which is also a form of persecution. I am not going to list a lot of things that come to mind, because they might not necessarily be a sin to some (Romans 14:22); but I can tell you this, if you feel condemned in your heart about something you allow, if you know God has a different plan for you, but you do it anyway, that thing you allow to stand between you and God is a sin, and it can bring about further separation from God – on to a complete backslidden condition. The “little foxes” spoil the vine (Song of Solomon 2:15).

The Word of God tells us, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, acceptable unto God, which is your REASONABLE service” Romans 12:1. (emphasis added)

Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (money)” Matthew 6:24. Oh yes, Jesus spoke about money. This thing called money can be a good thing, but the “love of money" is the “root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Some, during the great tribulation, will be beheaded (Revelation 20:4) for Jesus’s sake and the Word of God (Revelation 20:4).

Jesus said, “And why call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46.

Some of these will lay their necks down, rather than receive the “mark of the beast,” during the great tribulation (Revelation 20:4), and end up in the lake of fire forever.

Some, tragically, will fear being beheaded so much that they will receive the mark of the beast, which will only provide a very temporary stay of execution - possibly three and a-half years (Revelation 13:5), only to be cast into hell a short time later to suffer for eternity thereafter for receiving the mark of the beast!

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb, and the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name" Revelation 14:9-11.

God wants ALL of you, or NOTHING from you:

Jesus said, “So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of My mouth” Revelation 3:16. In other words, either serve Me with your whole heart, or don’t serve me at all, because if you aren't either, you will be like warm water in My mouth – I will spit you out!

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining shall surely come to pass. Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

“I Sought Him Whom My Soul Loveth” Song of Solomon 3:1

Are you searching for God today? We are living in such time as the prophets and Jesus Christ spoke of, a time of decision (Joel 3:14), with distress of nations (Luke 21:25), in perilous times (2 Timothy 3), and it is a defining time for the people of God.

Now is the time to settle in our hearts just how much we love the Lord God, our Creator, and whether we are willing to lay our very lives down on the fact that He is our Savior. Many are dying throughout the Middle East, and some other nations, simply because they lay hold to their faith that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.

I am ashamed to admit that there was a time when I told the Lord I wasn’t sure I could die for Him, if it came to that, but I prayed that He would place that much love and commitment inside of me, that He would give me the great love that I need to have for Him. God answered that prayer.

Jesus said,

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” Matthew 10:37.

This was always a very hard saying for me, especially since I have always loved my son more than myself, more than my own life. Albeit, I prayed for a “heart after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) and the love I needed for the Lord.

God promises to take care of all the rest, as we put Him first in our lives.

The Word of God tells us,

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” Matthew 6:33.

In other words, we don’t have to worry about anything we place second to Christ, because He will take care of all the rest! It is His promise to us; He is so wonderful!

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” Romans 12:1.

In return, our Lord and Savior has promised us eternal life,

“Whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” John 11:26.

Not many people realize it, but the Song of Solomon is a letter from God to the Jews and a letter from Christ to His bride. As I wrote the Song of Solomon during my study of the precious book, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that Christ was speaking to me, to the bride of Christ, through these writings in the Song of Solomon. I later discovered that Jewish rabbis have understood that God is speaking to His elect through the Song of Solomon.

The Song of Solomon contains scriptures which have plural interpretations. Plural interpretations are accepted by Bible theologians and they are significant in the interpretation of God's Word (hermeneutics). Just as the Jewish feasts are relevant to the Jews and their history, the feasts also have very significant meaning concerning: the sinless Lamb of God, who is Jesus Christ - John 1:29 (Passover); living a sanctified life - Hebrews 13:12 (Unleavened Bread); Christ’s resurrection - John 11:25 and 1 Corinthians 15:20 (Firstfruits); the outpouring of the Holy Ghost – Acts 2 (Pentecost); the resurrection of the dead and catching up of the saints - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (Feast of Trumpets); Christ's sacrificial blood offered on the altar for the remission of our sins (Day of Atonement); and the final reign of Christ on earth with His saints - Revelation 20:4-6 (Feast of Tabernacles). These are all examples of plural definitions of the scriptures, the Old Testament being a type and shadow of the New Testament.

The Song of Solomon speaks of the bride of Christ, who is looking for her bridegroom during the last days, but she cannot find Him (Song of Solomon 3:1). Notice that when she meets up with the “watchmen” (Song of Solomon 3:3), shortly after that, she finds her love and she will not let Him go (Song of Solomon 3:4). 

As children of God, are we not looking for Christ’s return? Nevertheless, many are tired of the wait and some have fallen asleep, but notice that when the "Shulamite bride" hears from the “watchmen,” those proclaiming the prophecies of Christ’s return, she, the bride of Christ, finds Him and she will “not let Him go.”

Have you long awaited the return of Christ? Have you grown weary in this life looking for God, but not finding Him, possibly falling asleep spiritually?

It is imperative to remember the parable of the 10 virgins (Matthew 25), which fits right into the theme of the Song of Solomon. We are being told in this love story that the “bride of Christ” needs to listen to the “watchmen,” and prepare for the Lord’s return by faith, understanding the signs of the times, as did the sons of Issachar.

If you are searching for Him, you will not find God in the last days, if you do not listen to His watchmen. God has prepared “watchmen” for the last days, whose loins are girt about (prepared) “with Truth” (Ephesians 6:15). It is imperative that God’s people not listen to those whose words do not line up entirely with God’s Holy Word. Jesus warned not once, not twice, but three times in Matthew 24 to beware of false teachers, false Christs and false prophets. Listen to the true “watchmen,” who rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15), understanding it by having studied it thoroughly with prayer, comparing scripture with scripture, while looking to God for the interpretation. As you hear a man of God preach, or teach, open the Word of God and make certain that what he is saying lines up with God’s Holy Word.

As you listen to the truth, and tithe your time to prayer and the reading of God’s Holy Word yourself, you will find the “Bridegroom” and you will “not let Him go” (Song of Solomon 3:4).

Jesus said,

“Watch therefore and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass (tribulation), and to stand before the Son of man” Luke 21:36.

In summary, if we love the Lord with our whole heart, if we watch and pray always and listen to the anointed “watchmen,” we will find our “Bridegroom” and “not let Him go.”

God bless you.

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining will surely come to pass. Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

* Music to accompany the photo *                                                       Courtesy of www.wallpaper4God.com

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Image – courtesy of: photos-public-domain.com

CRY UNTO GOD!

The Holy Word of God tells us, “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot...even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man (Jesus) is revealed” Luke 17:28, 30.

What was happening in the days of Lot? God sent His angels into Sodom (the city named after its prominent sin) to get righteous Lot and his family out, before God rained fire and brimstone on the city on account of their gross sins (Genesis 18-19).

Jesus said He would be revealed (return) when there comes a time such as the days of Lot. We are living in such a time as that right now!

As I thought about what God said in Genesis 18:20-21, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me and, if not, I will know.”

As I read the report in Genesis 18-19, of how the Lord’s attention was drawn to the cries about Sodom and Gomorrah, so then He investigated those cries that went up to Him, which brought about His wrath and the fiery destruction of these two cities.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but my cries go up often to God about the abominable sins in this world that are more than I can bear, especially those committed against children and against the household of faith.

I think about the children in Syria and Iraq that have been tortured by the Islamic State and many of them have seen their parents tortured. I cry out, “Lord, come quickly!” And I cry for them, because of their pain and suffering.

I think about the little children sitting in American schools, in mixed groups, girls and boys as young as 10, watching and listening as a Planned Parenthood instructors explain to them, very explicitly, how to commit sodomy! I literally cry, as I pray for these children, and I cry out, “Lord, come quickly!” (If this is abhorring to you, please visit the Home Education page.)

When enough of God’s people cry out to Him because of the gross sins all around us, the Lord will come for His people, and the great tribulation will begin against the wicked.

This crying out about such sins and the torture and pain being suffered by God’s people, and even their little ones, throughout the Middle East and Africa, just as the innocent cried out from Sodom, this crying out will bring our Lord to the rescue, just as the angels of the Lord rescued Lot and his family, before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, her sister city.

Please consider this:

If God’s people fail to cry out about the sins we are aware of, urging God’s attention and salvation from this “cup of iniquity,” they will cry out when the torture, pain, suffering, abominations and martyrdom reaches their own children and themselves!

Beloved, examine your heart and your prayer life. Are you waiting for the mayhem to reach you and your own family before you will cry out to God, so he will hear our cries and rescue us all; or are you too distracted with your own comforts to cry out for our brothers, sisters, their little children and elderly who are suffering untold agony? Just because many of them live in another country, that doesn’t mean they are not our brothers and sisters, whose grief we should also bear.

We had all better cry out to God for them now, otherwise, we will be crying out for our own selves later, when the suffering reaches us too!

The antichrist will take over the entire world (Revelation 13:16-18), and even before he does, one fourth of the world’s population will be killed:

“And I looked, and behold a pale horse, and his name that sat on him was Death, and hell followed him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword, and with hunger and with death, and with the beasts of the earth” Revelation 6:8.

The killing has begun, friends, during the pretribulation "birth pains" the world is experiencing right now (1 Thessalonians 5:3). Are you ready to cry out for those who are suffering and dying already?

The Holy Word of God tells us,

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2.

“...members should have the same care for one another, and whether one member suffers, all members suffer, or one member is honored, all the members rejoice” 1 Corinthians 12:25-26.

Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

Screen shot: YouTube.com

THE DOWRY

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is referred to in the scriptures as our “Bridegroom” (Isaiah 62:5; Matthew 9:15; John 3:29) and we, His saints, are referred to as His “bride” (Joel 2:16; Revelation 19:7).

Throughout Biblical history, the patriarchs paid dowries for their brides, and vice versa, the fathers of the brides also paid dowries to the bridegrooms. Examples of this are indicated below:

Jacob worked seven years for Rachel’s father in order to marry Rachel (Genesis 29).

Shechem’s father, Hamor, went to Jacob to inquire about paying a dowry for Dinah, his daughter (Genesis 34).

Leah said God had given her a “good dowry,” six sons (Genesis 30).

Caleb gave his daughter a dowry of a field with springs of water (Judges 1).

First, Jesus spilled His precious blood on Calvary for our redemption (Ephesians 1:7).

Jesus said to His disciples,

“In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” John 14:2-3.

By this promise also, Jesus has spoken of His dowry to us, the “bride” of Christ.

Everything written in the scriptures was “written for our learning” (Romans 15:4). So, in that the Word of God tells us that bridegrooms give dowries for their brides, and we see that Jesus is preparing a place for us, as fulfillment of the things foreshadowed, what is the “bride” to prepare for her “bridegroom,” Jesus?

Did Jesus provide some hints as to what this “dowry” should be?

He did, in fact. Jesus said,

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” John 14:15.

“If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” John 15:10.

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness (sin), we lie, and do not the truth" 1 John 1:6.

“I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” Romans 12:1.

In other words, in return for salvation, our eternal abode with Him, God expects us to surrender ourselves wholly and completely to Him in holiness, which is our reasonable service (our dowry).

Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

CHRIST AND THE CHURCH RELATIONSHIP

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus,

“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church” Ephesians 5:31-32.

Think about the timeless wedding vows, which have survived the ages. The groom says to the bride, and the bride says to the groom, the following pledge:

I take thee______to be my wedded (husband/wife), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish (forever).

The Word of God tells us,

“For if you live after the flesh, you shall die (eternally), but if you, through the Spirit, mortify (kill) the deeds of the body, you shall live (eternally)” Romans 8:13.

Jesus said,

“He who takes not his cross and follows after Me is not worthy of Me” Matthew 10:38.

The message is clear, folks. If we want a relationship with Christ, which is compared exactly to a marital relationship, as explained by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:31-32, we must die to our own fleshly desires, “die” to one’s self, and take up our own cross in this manner, as Christ did, and follow Him; following His teachings, His example and even His persecution.

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to Timothy, his spiritual son in Christ, and he said to him,

“Yes, all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3:12.

The Word of God is true.

Absolutely, in some way or another, if God’s people truly live their lives fashioned after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we will indeed suffer persecution.

All of us need to ask ourselves these questions:

·                    Have I surrendered my whole heart, mind, soul, body and strength to God daily?

·                    Am I suffering in some way(s) for the cause of Christ? (If not, consider your level of commitment to the Lord).

·                    Does the world’s population living around me have communion with me, or do they find me strange? (If we get along too well with the wicked, that could be indicative of a problematic relationship with the Lord – John 15:18.)

The Word of God tells us,

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” I Peter 2:9.

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” 1 Peter 2:11.

There is a doctrine that rose up from the pits of hell fire, and that is the doctrine of Calvinism – once saved, always saved, no matter what you do, no matter how you live, no matter how sinful you become. This is contrary to the teachings of Christ and the entire Word of God “rightly divided” (2 Timothy 2:15).

The Bible tells us that no scripture is of private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). Anyone can isolate a scripture here and there throughout the Bible, which tells us about the love of God and eternal salvation. It is crucial to understand scripture in the proper context, as it was written.

If you know the Word of God intimately, if you have read it in its entirety and you understand the correlation of the scriptures, you will also understand through the Holy Ghost (who gives us the interpretation – 1 Corinthians 2:14) that God has called us unto holiness, even as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:7).

“Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

With this calling, the Lord has also given to us very specific promises:

“There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it” 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Finally, please understand this:

“Know you not that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16.

God richly bless you with the fullness of His Holy Word and an abundant life in Christ Jesus.

Photo credit: News.trafcom.com

CREATOR OF ALL THINGS

Have you considered, really contemplated, how miraculous the creation of humanity is? Honestly, if we hadn’t experienced it with our own eyes, wouldn’t it sound outlandish and impossible to comprehend that a child develops from microscopic-sized sperm and eggs within only nine months of conception?

We seem to take for granted the miracles that occur before our eyes every single day, simply because we have become accustomed to witnessing them.

The manner in which the brain conceives thoughts and thoughts of movement are transmitted through nerves to create actions throughout arms, hands, legs and feet is nothing less than miraculous.

The Word of God tells us that God Himself breathed the breath of life into man,

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul” Genesis 2:7.

Why do these eyeballs see anything? After all, they only consist of flesh and blood. Why do we think intelligently and from infancy function with so many instincts? God Himself instilled these miraculous abilities within us, just as he has given animals the natural instinct to feed and take care of their young. After all, no one actually taught them how to do such things.

Scientists have found that all of these natural abilities are inherently written within our DNA, but one could ask, why are they there; who put them there?

The answer is God.

The Word of God tells us,

“The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they (humans) are without excuse; because when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened” Romans 1:20-21.

Scientists know that atoms never cease to exist. They may change, but they never cease to exist – never.

Photo credit: wikispaces.com – julieanngaleo

The complex language within the molecular spine of DNA cannot be explained for the purpose of evolution and renders Darwin’s theory of evolution a mathematical impossibility - absolutely.

This reminds me of what was written in the Word of God about man a couple of thousand years ago,

“The first man is of the earth, earthy (physical body); the second man is of the Lord from heaven (spirit). As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep (see death), but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound and the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed; for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible (body) shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” 1 Corinthians 15:47-54.

The reason our immortal souls never die is because that which issues from the Creator, God Almighty, does not die. Our physical bodies were made from the corruptible earth, but in that God breathed life into our bodies, creating living souls, those souls never experience death. The immortal soul departs the body, as the physical body dies, entering heaven, or hell, depending on what we have done with our bodies, according to God’s Word (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15).  

The Word of God tells us, which scientists have already discovered, that even our corruptible bodies, created by God, only change and never cease to exist. Out of His love and mercy, God has promised to resurrect our mortal bodies, so our eternal souls will inhabit eternal bodies at the resurrection of the saints (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Those who reject Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, and His sacrifice of death on the cross for our sins, will be resurrected to eternal damnation in hell (Revelation 20:11-15).

Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

Screen shot: YouTube.com

HELL

Many throughout the world today, even some who claim to be devout Christians, do not believe in hell. They have convinced themselves, for whatever reason, that the Bible is very mysterious, mostly shaded, incomprehensible, thus, much of it is also parabolic and cannot be understood – period.

Is this what the Word of God says about “The Word?”

Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon,

“There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets...” Daniel 2:28.

Hence, Daniel, being beloved of God, was given not only the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, as he requested, but also the entire dream itself, in response to Nebuchadnezzar’s mandate that not only Daniel should give him the interpretation of the dream, but tell him the dream as well! Daniel was God’s beloved, and this was made known to Daniel through the angel Gabriel,

“And he informed me and talked with me and said, ‘O Daniel, I have come forth to give you skill and understanding. At the beginning of your supplications, the commandment came forth, and I have come to show you, for you are greatly beloved, therefore, understand the matter and consider the vision’” Daniel 9:22-23.

Daniel was given much understanding, knowledge, visions and secrets were revealed to him, because he was beloved of God. Daniel was beloved of God because Daniel loved God with all of his heart. He prayed to God three times a day and he fasted and made supplications to God.

The Word of God reveals to us,

“And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13.

Who is God? The Word of God tells us that God is the Word,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1.

God Himself is the Word. However, some believe that God has given His Word in mystery, because He doesn’t want us to know what it means. Ponder that for a moment. God gives us His Word – Himself – but will not provide a way to understand it at all. Does that make any sense?

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“Study (the Word) to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” 2 Timothy 2:15.

Why would Paul admonish us to study the Word, if we aren’t supposed to know what it means? Why would God send His Word to earth, if He doesn’t want us to know what it means?

People want to say that the Word of God is a mystery when they themselves do not want to meet the conditions required in order to be given the interpretation of God’s Most Holy Word. It is true; the Word is a mystery to many; but this is not the will of God for men.

Jesus became agitated with His disciples every time they questioned Him about his parables, because they, being blessed with His holy presence and continuous instructions, should have known the interpretation of His Word. Jesus said,

“How is it that you do not understand that I spoke not to you concerning bread, that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? (He was speaking about their doctrine – of sin)” Matthew 16:11.

I have heard people say numerous times that the Book of Revelation is a mystery and no one understands it. However, John wrote in Revelation 1,

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John” Revelation 1:1.

Notice, John the Revelator wrote, “...to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass...” If no one was supposed to understand it, because it is so mysterious, why did John say the Word was given to him to “show His servants things...”

Jesus also told John,

“Blessed is he that reads, and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keeps those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand” Revelation 1:3.

Jesus, here, was speaking about the prophecy given in the Book of Revelation. If it isn’t intended that we understand Revelation, why are those who read “blessed,” and how can they “keep the things that are written therein,” if they aren’t able to understand what’s written in the book? Does that make sense?

While I am on that subject, I would like to share with you that evangelist Perry Stone is one of the most anointed Bible prophecy ministers in the world today. His Manna Fest program airs throughout the world weekly on Christian television. He has prepared a study of the Book of Revelation titled Breaking the Apocalypse Code. This is an extensive and very comprehensive study, including seven DVDs and a study syllabus, which explains in great detail each of the 22 Books of Revelation. I highly recommend these tools, if you haven’t completed a very prayerful study of the entire Bible, with further focus on the Book of Revelation yourself. The cost of these materials is $75.00, but if the minister doesn’t receive payment for his labor, he and his family don’t eat. The Word of God tells us regarding monetary support of ministers,

“...the laborer is worthy of his hire” Luke 10:7.

“At that time, Jesus answered and said, ‘I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them unto babes” Matthew 11:25.

Jesus said here that the Word is revealed even to babes in Christ Jesus through His Spirit, not to those considered to be “wise and prudent” in this world. It simply takes the indwelling Spirit in those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior to understand the Word of God.

Jesus spoke of hell fire, and the Word of God bears out the fact that it is a very real place – and to be feared,

Jesus said,

“But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear; fear Him, which after He has killed has power to cast into hell; yes, I say unto you, Fear Him” Luke 12:5.

God's people don't have to fear hell, but those are not "born again" (John 3:3-7) should fear hell, because they are on their way there. That is not the popular message in the world today. Well, that shouldn’t surprise us at all, because today we are living in an extremely wicked and agnostic world. We each have to ask ourselves if we are going to go along with the world and the tweaked “gospel message” of the world today, or are we going to walk “the ancient path” (Jeremiah 18:15) of truth and light, which leads to life everlasting.

Jesus warned of hell (Mark 9:43-48), and He was so adamant about it, He repeated Himself three times from verses 43 – 48, in addition to many other warnings throughout the Old and New Testaments about hell.

The bottom line is this; will you believe Jesus, or some popular preacher that only preaches scriptures about the love of God, so as not to offend anyone, and for the sake of making money doing the same?

Eternity will meet with us much sooner than anyone realizes it.

What is your choice about heaven and hell? Choose wisely, because we have only one shot at it during this lifetime. God bless you.

Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

Screen shot: YouTube.com

BY THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE

If you have studied the Bible at length, you may have already discovered something very remarkable about heaven and the earth, people, animals and plants... Everything, and I mean everything, points to God and his Holy Word!

Do you know how far east is from west, how far heaven spans above us? That’s how mysterious God is! The Word of God tells us, “The Lord is high above all nations and His glory above the heavens” Psalms 113:4. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord; for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55:8-9.

Is it nothing to you that a microscopic sperm penetrates a miniscule-sized egg and nine months later a human child is born? God told the Prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you, and before you came forth out of the womb, I sanctified you and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations” Jeremiah 1:5. Time does not exist with God; He knew us before we were born! Time, as we know it, and how it is affected by space and motion, teaches us a bit about God’s eternity.

Animals are much different than humans. The Word of God tells us, “God created the whales and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind, and God saw that it was good. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps upon the earth after his kind, and God saw that it was good” Genesis 1:21, 25. Animals are unable to think in the same manner we think and they are not as intelligent or creative as humans, because God made man in His own image! “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth” Genesis 1:26. That’s why the animals do not rule over us!

A lifeless, dead and dried up seed, when it is planted into the ground and watered, brings forth fruit, vegetables and all kinds of healing herbs; which is indicative of God’s promise to give us eternal life, if we believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. A dried up seed, once it is planted into the ground and watered, miraculously brings forth magnificent plant life, and in some cases, such as with mustard seeds, very profound plant life. The mustard seed is among the smallest seeds, yet that very tiny seed brings forth one of the greatest trees imaginable. The dried seed is indicative of our bodies at death, which are buried and then dry up. The Word of God tells us, just as in the case of the dried seed, that our bodies will be resurrected and changed into immortal bodies to be with the Lord forever. The Word of God tells us, “Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed, for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53. However, the Word of God tells us that the wicked will be cast into hell to languish there throughout eternity for rejecting such a Mighty God and Savior – who even died for us, paying the penalty for our sins, so we could live forever! The Word of God also tells us, “My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of Living Waters, and hewed themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” Jeremiah 2:13. God is the "Living Water" which, when it is applied to our dead bodies, brings forth life eternal, and only through Him, the Living Water, can we be resurrected from the dead, just as the seed comes to life when it is watered. Jesus said, “He that believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living Water” John 7:38. This “Living Water” is the eternal life-giving power of Almighty God! Those who do not receive Jesus are as “broken cisterns.” They cannot retain the Living Water, which has been poured out upon all flesh through the Word of God, if they will only receive it and hold it dear to themselves.

The Word of God also tells us about the wicked and his demise, “The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so they are without excuse. Because when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” Romans 1:20-22.    

Finally, the Word of God says, “...choose this day whom you will serve...” Joshua 24:15.

Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. There will be no other lifetimes beyond this one to make that choice. Choose wisely and God bless you.

I immediately knew the spiritual interpretation of this dream.

Do you personally know the people you are entrusting your children to? Do you really know the people you trust to teach your children on a daily basis? Do you know if they are Christians, or if they even have any moral standards, or if they are altogether evil?

Unless you know your children’s teachers on a personal basis, I present to you that perhaps your children are in the care and under the tutelage of possibly those who can and will change the course of your child’s thinking, morality and spiritual condition, if they are not spiritually well and trustworthy.

Are you aware of the fact that public elementary schools are teaching very young children how to sodomize one another in sex "education" classes? I would simply call this X-rated pornographic, abominable child molestation!

If you are a Christian and you have a child, or children, in public schools, it is way past the hour to get your children out of there and into a Christian school or homeschool. If none of these are an option right now, you can pray, speak to your pastor and other members of your church, and God will certainly make a way for your children not to endure such evil. There are also suggestions included on the Home Education page of this website.

Jesus said concerning the time of His return in the latter days,

“As it was in the days of Lot, they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded, but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all” Luke 17:28-29.

What is significant about the days of Lot, which Jesus referred to here? The significance is that Lot, who was righteous (2 Peter 2:7), dwelt at the gate of Sodom, a city named after its primary sin. He explains here that as soon as Lot escaped from Sodom, with the help of God’s angels, the wrath of God was poured out upon the wicked, among whom sodomy was prevalent.

We need to understand that judges in Sodom ruled that sex in the streets was legal!

As we enter an evil generation, which goes so far as to teach young children sodomy in public classrooms, you had better know that the return of the Lord is at hand – He could return at any moment!

If you are concerned for the welfare of your children, please visit the Home Education page; but before you do, please ask yourself the following question:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“I WILL GIVE CHILDREN TO BE THEIR PRINCES AND BABES SHALL RULE OVER THEM, AND THE PEOPLE SHALL BE OPPRESSED, EVERY ONE BY ANOTHER AND EVERY ONE BY HIS NEIGHBOR. THE CHILD SHALL BEHAVE HIMSELF PROUDLY AGAINST THE ANCIENT, AND THE BASE AGAINST THE HONORABLE” ISAIAH 3:4-5

The above prophecy was issued against Jerusalem and Judah when they rejected God and His commandments, going after idols, murdering, committing adultery and for unjust judgment against the poor.

The above prophecy, issued by God through His prophet, Isaiah, against Jerusalem and Judah also applies to any and every nation that rebels against God.

Among 44 US Presidents, Barack Hussein Obama is among the five youngest. This one, and the one preceding him, George W Bush, have wreaked more havoc on the American people, the economy and the US military than most previous presidents, with exception to Woodrow Wilson, who signed the Federal Reserve Act in 1913, for which he later apologized to the American people for bringing about such ruin to the nation.

Will a just God bring judgment against rebellious Jerusalem and Judah, His elect, yet leave off judgment against those who have kicked His Holy Word and prayer out of public schools and other public places, who have instead brought evolution monkey charts into the classrooms, who also allow X-rated “sex education” and the abominable promotion of GLBT into even elementary schools, who have slaughtered hundreds of millions of unborn babies, who have done away with the definition of holy matrimony, which God Himself instituted for His creation? These are only a few of this nation’s rebellious sins against God. Will America get away with it?

9/11 was only the beginning of judgment against this rebellious and ungodly nation. If you haven’t read the Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn, it is a “must read” and includes such prophetic truth for America today.

This nation is under judgment. God has been very patient, waiting for people to pray, repent and make every attempt to do what we can to turn this nation, as a whole, back to God. 9/11 was only a warning and prelude of what is to come, if this nation doesn’t repent.

God, on the other hand, will protect His people who humble themselves before Him, obey Him and fully trust in Him, just as the Lord spared Jeremiah from Babylonian captivity.

God requires that His people serve Him with their whole hearts, not halfheartedly, for He said,

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot (altogether disobedient, nor obedient); I would rather you be cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth” Revelation 3:15-16.

"Say you to the righteous, that it shall be well with him, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him. As for My people, children are their oppressors and women rule over them. Oh My people, they which lead you cause you to err and destroy the way of your paths" Isaiah 3:10-12.

Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website. Your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

__________________________________________________________________________________

PREDESTINATION?

Many people believe in a predestination theology today. There are some scriptural references that might lead one to believe that we might as well “toss in the towel,” because “que sera, sera” (whatever will be, will be). This theory, in general, couldn’t be farther from the truth.

We have to bear in mind that, “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” 2 Peter 1:20. In order to understand God’s Holy Word, when it comes to the deep things of God, one must have received the gift of the Holy Ghost; “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” John 14:26. There are a lot of people out there teaching the scripture, preaching sermons about “predestination,” and what have you, and there are hours upon hours of teachings on YouTube.com; but if you aren’t able to determine if that individual has received the “gift of the Holy Ghost” (Hebrews 2:4) and is anointed to preach, you may be listening to fables.

Yes, I am filled with the Holy Ghost and, in fact, the Lord gave me this message for someone, or some people, today. If you have the Spirit of God, the Spirit in you will bear witness to what I say.

The Apostle John, the Revelator, wrote concerning the end of days,

“The sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man according to their works” Revelation 20:13. If God performed according to some men's interpretation of the Word, he would have written, “and they were judged every man according to how God predestined them.”

The Word of God says, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad” 2 Corinthians 5:10. The Apostle Paul didn’t say, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every man may receive the things according to what God forced him to do by predestination, whether it be good or bad.”

The Apostle John wrote,

“He that believes on Him is not condemned, but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” John 3:18. Unless the Word of God is a lie and of no affect, we are condemned if we do not believe, not because God didn’t predestine us to be saved. That would also contradict what the Lord said in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  It would also contradict God's Holy Word in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."  

Finally, the Word of God tells us,

“For whom He did foreknow, he also did predestine to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” Romans 8:29.

Note here that Paul is writing to the “elect” of God (Romans 8:33), “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). Do all Christians “walk after the Spirit?” Are all Christians Apostles? Some, whom God “did foreknow” (know from the very beginning) that they would even lay down their lives – as Paul laid his head on Nero’s chop block; as Peter gave himself up to be crucified upside down, not counting himself worthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Savior; as Stephen, who gave himself up to be stoned to death...and the list goes on. These were predestined to “be the firstborn among many brethren,” because God foreknew they would be faithful, even to the laying down of their very lives. Was the thief on the cross predestined, that "he might be the firstborn among many brethren?” Not hardly, as he scarcely made it in, believing in Christ as he was dying for his crimes.

The Word of God refers to the “elect.” The Word of God also tells us that “many are called, but few are chosen” Matthew 22:14. This is indicative that the call to repent and be saved has been sent to the entire world (Revelation 22:17), but few are chosen to issue the call. If only some were predestined for heaven, and others predestined for hell, then Jesus did not die for the sin of the whole world, as stated in John 1:29. Make no mistake the Word of God does not contradict itself. The bride of Christ is the “elect,” willing to lay down her life for the bridegroom, Christ (Revelation 22:17). 

If you are compelled by the power of the Holy Ghost and fire (Matthew 3:11) to be a witness, a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and if you are willing to die for Him (Romans 12:1), then you are the “elect" of God (Romans 8:33), of "a royal priesthood, a holy nation” 1 Peter 2:9.

Many are called, but few are chosen, as the Word tells us. Some are the “elect” of God, some are simply called to repentance. God said, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” Romans 9:13. Is God unjust? Think it not! God said, “My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55:9.

Receive it by faith, even if you don't fully understand, lest you fight against God Himself.

If you do not receive these truths and that our God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is a just and righteous God, then you do not believe the Word of God and you are condemned already.

Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website. Your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

 __________________________________________________________________________________

Photo credit: Flickr - Lawrence OP

“Let him who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall” 1 Corinthians 10:12

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope” Romans 15:4.

The Lord appeared unto Solomon and asked him what He could give him, because He was pleased with Solomon (1 Kings 3:5). The Word of God tells us that, “Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father” 1 Kings 3:3.

The Lord even appeared unto Solomon a second time, being pleased with Solomon’s sacrifices and the magnificent temple he built for the Lord, and He said to Solomon,

“I have heard your prayer and supplication that you have made before Me. I have hallowed this house, which you have built, to put My name there forever and My eyes and My heart shall be there perpetually; and if you will walk before Me, as David your father walked in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to David your father, saying, ‘There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel” 1 Kings 9:3-5.

God promised Solomon that, if he obeyed Him, a king would not fail to sit on the throne of Israel from his lineage forever (including in the new Jerusalem, which God will bring down from heaven to last forever in His righteous kingdom [Revelation 3:12]).

Nevertheless, the Lord continued speaking to Solomon, and He also laid down a severe warning,

“But if you shall at all turn from following Me, you or your children, and will not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for My name, will I cast out of My sight, and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people” 1 Kings 9:6-7.

God’s warnings to Solomon all came to pass after Solomon turned away from following God’s commandments, and the kingdom was later divided from his son, Rehoboam, and the Temple of God was also later destroyed.

Solomon’s weakness was women. He loved strange women from other nations, which God had warned Israel against, and the Bible tells us that they drew his heart away from God, even after the Lord blessed Solomon with two profound visitations and had given him wealth and wisdom beyond anything any other king had ever known (1 Kings 11).

One might ask how in the world, even after the Lord God Almighty appeared unto him twice and bestowed such wealth and wisdom upon him, how in the world could he turn away from God like that and built idols to pagan gods with his strange wives?

It didn’t happen overnight.

The Word of God tells us that God warned Solomon in His own love song, given prophetically through the mouth of Solomon himself, “...the little foxes spoil the vines...” (Song of Solomon 2:15).

Drawing away from God is a gradual process, but sometimes unnoticed, until the fatal fall occurs, because we don’t heed the continuous warnings.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” 1 Corinthians 5:6.

Leaven connotates sin throughout the Bible. This scripture means, “Don’t you know that a little sin ends up defiling the entire body?”

As in Joseph’s example (Genesis 39), we have been instructed time and time again throughout the Word of God to “flee fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:18), “resist the devil” (James 4:7), “neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). We are not to give “place” to the devil, allowing him any room to take a foothold in our lives. All of these warnings, and many, many more, have been issued in the Word of God to deliver us from the “second death” (Revelation 2:11, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 20:14, Revelation 21:8), which is the lake of fire.

Jesus warned,

“As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of Man shall send forth His angels and they shall gather out of His Kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” Matthew 13:40-42.

The tares, which Jesus spoke of here, are mixed and mingled among the children of God throughout the world today.

Jesus continued,

“So shall it be at the end of the world; the angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” Matthew 13:49-50.

I have encountered people among the Christian community that become very angry when they hear messages such as this one. They really prefer to ignore any such warnings as these throughout the Bible, but would rather read all of the scriptures which focus on God’s love, the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross of Calvary and his unmerited favor.

Yes, all of those scriptures about God’s love and His sacrifice for our sins are in the Word of God, but the warnings are in there too. Scriptures and messages are overflowing throughout the world today about God’s love and His offer of salvation to all mankind; but not many talk about the warnings, or hell. Since there is so much focus on the foundational doctrine of God’s love and His offer of salvation, yet never a warning, the Lord has called a few of us in these last days to focus on the warnings, “pulling them out of the fire” (Jude 1:23).

The “milk” of the Word is flowing throughout the world today and many flock to that same message of God’s eternal love and salvation, because they can’t handle anything else (1 Corinthians 3:2).

If these "meaty" messages offend you, if/when you become a mature Christian and you already have confidence in the fact that God has saved you, I pray you might have time to return to this website for some "meat" of the Word (Hebrews 5:12), before the Lord returns. God bless you.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Are You Dancing At the Cliff’s Edge?

Most people who refer to themselves as Christians today don’t have a problem allowing sin in their lives. Most of the preachers in pulpits today don’t have a problem with sin either, teaching the doctrine of Calvinism.

Two notable scriptures quoted by Calvinists today are,

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” Romans 10:9.

We need to be aware of this scripture as well,

“You believe there is one God; you do well. The devils also believe and tremble” James 2:19.

James made a point here that our walk with God must go beyond just believing in Him.

Then we have this famous passage of scripture,

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:35, 38-39.

Preceding this scripture, Paul spoke of his persecutions in this life and the fact that he still knew that the Lord loved him. Did you notice that “sin” isn’t mentioned among the things that can’t separate us from the love of God?

These scriptures cannot be separated from the rest of the Word of God, nor can they be interpreted alone.

There is a very good reason why the Word of God tells us,

“...no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” 2 Peter 1:20.

The Word of God also tells us that we must “rightly divide” the Word of Truth,

“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” 2 Timothy 2:15.

Rightly dividing the scriptures means that we can’t take any scripture and isolate it to formulate an interpretation; we must look at all scripture, measuring it against all other scriptures, and only then we can know the true meaning of the scriptures.

Jesus said,

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not the things which I say” Luke 6:46.

Because it’s man’s inclination to think with the secular mind, we are also inclined to proclaim frailty and even an inability to walk holy before God.

Paul preached to the church at Philippi,

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13.

Jesus Himself also said,

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” Matthew 5:48.

Actually, this all depends on our walk with God and our determination to please Him. The Lord has already made provision through the Holy Ghost for us to live a holy life.

Jesus said,

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto My Father. If you love Me, keep my commandments” John 14:12, 15.

We will never appear perfect in the eyes of men, because they look on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.

“...for the Lord sees not as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” 1 Samuel 16:7.

If we listen to those who are weak spiritually, they often try to convince others that no one can live without sin; we all have to sin; it’s hopeless; we are just sinful creatures and we will never change.

The Apostle Paul said,

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Weak Christians, and those who are deceived, judge people by the outward appearance and say they don’t know anyone who can live without sinning on a regular basis.

If we judge others by what we perceive they have done, according to our own thinking, we could be comparing ourselves among those who repented long ago of what we still hold out to be sin in their lives. This is why we are not to judge others and we are not to compare ourselves among others. This wouldn’t apply to someone who is living in sin and continuing in the same sin. The Word of God is clear that we are to admonish such a person in a spirit of humility, lest we ourselves become castaways.

“Brethren, if any man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted” Galatians 6:1.

Weak Christians, or those who are deceived, sometimes quote this scripture in defense of their belief that they must live sinful lives,

“The good that I would do, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do. I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:19, 21, 24.

This all sounds very defeating, unless you read on to the next chapter, Romans 8, as Paul continues his instructions, which did not end in chapter 7...

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” Romans 8:1, 5-6.

Again, this is exactly why we cannot isolate any one area of scriptures; we must put them all together in their proper perspective. Paul, here, in chapter 7 was only starting the theme of his message and he was emphasizing how the flesh wars against the spirit and how overpowering temptation can be, but in chapter 8 he gives us the remedy to this battle, to “walk after the Spirit, not the flesh.”

By the way, Paul didn’t divide his letter to the Romans into chapters and verses. In his original writings, chapter 8 would have continued with the flow of chapter 7, so the point would have been more clear to us today, if we were reading the original text. It certainly has the potential to lead people astray if they stop at chapter 7 and do not continue through to chapter 8 during the same study. This is how the foolish become deceived. The Bible was divided into chapters and verses only after the Word of God was copied from the original texts.

Paul wrote this also to the Romans,

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? What then, shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid” Romans 6:1-2, 15.

You won’t hear that message in most churches today, but it is truth just the same.

The Word of God tells us that there will be a “falling away” before the Lord returns (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

Jesus warned us not once, not twice, but three times to beware of false prophets in the latter days (throughout Matthew 24), as He spoke to his disciples about events that would occur before His return.

Let there be no mistake. As Christians, there may be times that we might fail the Lord, but the Word of God is clear that we are to repent and the Lord will forgive us.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not; and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 John 2:1.

There is a difference between failing God and repenting, and continuing in unrepented sin. If a person plans to continue in the same sin, there is no need to repent, because if we repent, we are instructed in the Word of God to “sin no more.”

“Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said unto him, Behold, you are made whole. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you” John 5:14.

Paul wrote also to the Hebrews, saying,

“For if we sin willfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He who despised Moses’s law died without mercy under two or three witnesses; of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace? It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” Hebrews 10:26-29, 31.

In summary, I will give you the parable that the Lord gave to me when He gave me this message. (Yes, He still speaks parables today - to those who are listening.)

A person is high on a cliff and has some treacherous ground to cover, before he finally arrives home. There is fire and brimstone below, along both sides of the high cliff he is transversing.

This man loves to dance. In fact, all people really love to dance to enticing music. The path is treacherous and can be very boring, but his plight is clear; he must be extremely careful not to fall into the fire and boiling brimstone at the bottom of the cliff. God has given him a roadmap and He has even given him a rail to hold onto all along the way, which is also called the Comforter. Music is playing in the background, enticing music from the embers below. This man has been given a life and death choice. He can either hold carefully to the rail and walk steadfastly all the way home, or dance while transversing the cliff, letting go of the Comforter, and likely fall off into the consuming fires below. If he holds securely to the rail, the Comforter, which God has provided, and adheres closely to the map (the Ancient Path), he will be safe all the way; or he can begin dancing and amusing himself to that overwhelming music in the background, slip, stumble and fall into the fires below – forever to be lost.

The Lord told me that because people cannot see the actual lake of fire underneath them, as described in Revelation 20:14-15, and because they do not take Him at His Word, but doubt His Holy Word, they choose to dance along the treacherous path, even those who call themselves Christians, because they also will not have faith to understand that they are literally trampling underfoot the blood of Jesus “and do despite to the Spirit of grace.” These will stand before Me in judgment and they will not be excused.

“He that, being often reproved, hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” Proverbs 29:1.

“Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it” Mark 8:35.

Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? None of us can be assured we will still be living on this earth tomorrow. If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website. Your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you. 

THE IMMOVABLE DIVIDING WALL

5/11/2014: I had a dream before waking this morning. Throughout most of the day, I have been unable to remember the entire dream, but I knew it was spiritual and of most importance. 

When I woke up, I remembered that I was traveling down a road and I came across people who were stranded along the way, so I picked up the weary travelers, and they were quite a few.

I remembered that we stopped at a wall and many of the people traveling with me sat upon the wall and they wanted the “leader” to move the wall, but he would not move it.

I picked up the weary people along the road, but I was not their leader. 

We got back in the vehicle and started out on our journey again, only to stop a while later at another wall. Again, the people converged upon the wall and wanted the wall to be moved over to the other side of the road, clear across the other lane, but the leader refused to move the wall.

We got back into the vehicle and drove a short distance, pulling over to the wall once again. This scenario repeated several times during the dream. The weary people wanted the wall to be moved across the road, on the other side of traffic, but the leader again refused.

Upon waking this morning, I only remembered the last stop and the leader refusing to move the wall. As the day progressed, I began remembering more of the dream and that I had picked up the stranded travelers along the road.

It was actually when I knelt down to pray for mid-day prayer that the full details of the dream were revealed to me - and the Holy Ghost fell. I prayed in the Spirit for a while, as the dream was revealed and the interpretation.

The following is an account of the dream and the interpretation:

I was traveling a two-lane road, and I was traveling on the road to everlasting life. The opposite lane lead to destruction, death and finally to hell fire.

As I was traveling down the road, I saw many weary people who were stranded, so I stopped to pick them up along the way.

There was a brick wall in the middle of the road and I pulled over to rest intermittently. The people climbed and sat on top of the wall and wanted our Leader to move the wall to the other side of the road, but He refused.

Our leader was the Holy Ghost, who provides direction and comfort along the way.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go; I will guide you with My eye” Psalms 32:8.

People sitting on the wall represents indecision and a lukewarm spirit, neither hot, nor cold:

“So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth” Revelation 3:16. (The Words of Jesus)

God definitely wants His people to have the zeal of the Lord, not to be sitting on the fence. In fact, because He loves integrity, and not a spirit of hypocrisy, He would rather us be zealous for Him, or against Him, but a “lukewarm” spirit He will spit out of His mouth. He hates that half-hearted condition.

The fact that the spiritually weary people wanted God to move the wall, instead of climbing down to either side, is indicative of this generation, of those who want to compromise God's Word. They don’t want to “pick up their cross and follow Jesus” (Matthew 16:24), neither do they want to head straight down the path to destruction, death and hell; but they would rather God compromise His Holy Word and compromise His requirement of holiness. They want both sides of the road. They want the dividing wall, which stands between life everlasting, and the road that leads to destruction death and hell, to be moved over to the other side of the road and out of the way, so they can amble back and forth, as they please. They don’t want a dividing wall. They want a very wide path, so they can travel the path of rioting, partying, pleasures, and self indulgence, but swiftly move over to the path to life everlasting whenever the trials and tribulations arise on the road to destruction. In fact, they do not want a dividing wall between “right” and “wrong.” They want to be “right and wrong” at the same time, essentially eliminating the possibility of being wrong no matter what they do!

This is the doctrine of megachurches today. 

“Now the Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth, for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer” 1 Timothy 4:1-4.

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, preach the Word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine; for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn away their ears from truth and shall be turned unto fables” 2 Timothy 4:1-4.

These are the instructions that the Apostle Paul gave to a youthful minister named Timothy, as he (Paul) was preparing to die at Nero’s chop block, giving his head for the cause of Christ.

Jesus said,

“Whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it” Matthew 10:39.

In other words, we are to live for Christ, not ourselves. Jesus spoke of denying ourselves for His sake, but gaining eternal life instead. Those who seek to please themselves in this life, will lose their life to eternal damnation instead. You will not hear that message in most popular churches today.

There are two distinctive roads and they do not intertwine, nor will God move the boundary for the sake of those who desire to compromise, living their lives to the fullest in this world, according to their own self will, to fulfill the desires of the flesh, but at the same time wanting to hold on to the path which leads to eternal life. The world and godliness do not mix (1 John 2:15), and we can’t have it both ways. The scriptures are very clear. Jesus said,

“Enter in at the straight gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be which go in thereat; because straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leads unto life, and few there be that find it” Matthew 7:13-14.

To hear popular ministers in megachurches today, just about everyone is going to heaven, because God loves everybody and He wants everybody to be happy!

Wrong! God loves everybody and He wants us to find our happiness in Him, not in the world!

Jesus said, the Lord Jesus said, “…few there be that find it.” Jesus said that many are going down the broad path of destruction. Let there be no mistake about it. The preachers of today are lying to the masses. The Pope, who says "Atheists, if they do good works, are going to heaven," is lying to the masses!

Listen to the Savior. Listen to Jesus; do not listen to those who have a conflict of interest and stand to make money from the masses by making them happy! Listen to the one who will not lie to you! Take heed! Your eternal soul depends on it!!

God bless you with truth.

Photo credit: Flickr - Ryk Neethling

HOW SERIOUS IS TRUTH?

There are a lot of preachers in the world today and there appears to be dozens of churches in most major cities, at least in America.

People are enamored with this preacher, that priest and the other prophet throughout the world, but most of these preachers, priests and prophets disagree on integral doctrinal issues, or even who God really is.

Truth is critical.

Jesus stressed the importance of truth and avoiding deception, not once, not twice, but three times in Matthew 24, as He pointed out to His disciples signs of His return.

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

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved, but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” Matthew 24:22.

Notice, Jesus said that even the very "elect" of God, speaking of those who walk circumspectly before the Lord with diligence, even those would be deceived, if God did not shorten the days, because of the level of deceitfulness in the world in these last days. This should tell us all how very subtle and deceitful Satan is and how powerful he is working through deceivers who come in “the name of the Lord.”

Jesus never begged anyone to follow Him; He didn't plead. He made the offer and if people rejected Him, He went to the next town. I find it very note worthy that Jesus repeated Himself about deceivers, false prophets and false Christs three times.

I cannot express to you how vitally important it is for each of us, every single one of us, to stay diligently in prayer and the reading of God’s Word daily, in order to know it very well for ourselves, so we will not be deceived. We MUST know the Word of God for ourselves – it's critical.

In fact, if you are really serious about your walk with God; if you truly desire to know Him with all of your heart, soul and might, then it is imperative that you abide in the Lord, as the ancient prophets did, and as Christ Himself walked before God. These were their habits:

Daily prayer: preferably at least three times a day, as in the prophet Daniel’s example (Daniel 6:13). Throughout His ministry, Jesus also prayed frequently, as we read in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John concerning Him.

Daily reading/studying God’s Word: The roadmap to salvation and eternal life is the Word of God. God Himself, in fact, is The Word (John 1:1). It is impossible to know Him without knowing His Word. The more you read (prayerfully), the more enlightened you will become and your relationship will become intimate with God. God said, “And you shall seek Me and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all of your heart” Jeremiah 29:13.

Assemble with God’s people: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching” Hebrews 10:25. Be extremely careful about your selection of a church in this day and hour. There are many churches in the world today, but they disagree on what the Bible actually says. Measure what the preacher teaches with the Word of God. If it doesn’t measure up, run from there! You would be better off communicating with God’s people by mail, phone, or internet, if you are unable to locate a church where truth is taught.

We are living in the last days, friends, in the perilous times spoken of by the Apostle Paul, as he wrote to Timothy,

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. The “power” of what, you might ask? The power “thereof” – of godliness! A vast many more preachers today do not preach holiness. In fact, most of them will tell you that you can’t live holy! This is contrary to the Word of God. Through Christ, we can. Jesus not only came to save us, but to empower us to live as He lived! The entire reason He came as a man, and not in the God-form that He was in heaven - was to specifically be an example to us, showing us that through Him, we can live holy.

The Word of God tells us,

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13.

“For God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” 1 Thessalonians 4:7

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

I am not saying that Christians never err, nor commit sins. I am saying that if we do, the Word of God tells us that we have an advocate with the Father and we should repent, but we are not to live willfully in sin. The Word of God teaches us,

“My little children, these things I write unto you, that you sin not; and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 John 2:1.

“Know you not that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16.

The Word of God clearly tells us here that if we dwell in sin, “yield ourselves” to it, we are servants of satan. There is a difference between messing up and repenting, versus remaining in a state of willful sin.

Imagine this: If you walked a path every day on a high, precarious cliff and there was a 1,000 foot drop on either side, with a fiery pit at the bottom of either side of the road, wouldn’t you walk straight and circumspectly on the narrow path and not veer off to the right or left? Certainly, none of us would veer off or falter - the answer is quite easy. Nevertheless, when it comes to being faithful to the Lord God, the One who died for us, the One who saved us and has prepared a glorious eternal life ahead for those who accept Him as Savior, which also includes surrendering to His will, people have the audacity to say, Impossible; we must sin! Most preachers are telling the masses that you CAN’T walk in holiness! They are liars and they teach doctrines of devils,

“Now the Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils” 1 Timothy 4:1.

It is imperative that we know the Word of God and follow it. God is the Word.

Jesus taught,

“And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” Luke 9:23.

Many preachers today are saying, “You can’t backslide.” God will keep you, even if you live in sin, that’s okay, you can’t lose your salvation.

Jesus taught,

“And he that takes not his cross and follows after Me is not worthy of Me” Matthew 10:38.

The Apostle Peter spoke of these things,

"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption, for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage; for if they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning, for it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment given unto them; 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 2:19-22.

“Then said Jesus, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” Matthew 16:24.

This is Bible truth, but tragically, you will not hear it from many preachers today.

Time isn’t on your side, if you aren’t taking up your cross and following Jesus. We are quickly approaching a critical point prophetically and times are going to change rapidly. If you really want to follow Christ, your walk with the Lord won’t be like many of the preachers are teaching today. The Apostle Paul, before laying his neck on Nero’s chop block, admonished Timothy,

“Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3:12.

Many preachers today are encouraging a life of selfishness, prosperity, social gatherings and niceties, with enticing words; but living for God, truly living for God involves sacrifice of self and selfish desires, according to God's Holy Word.

Time is winding down, friends, and if we intend to follow Christ, as His Word teaches us to follow Him, we must redeem the time,

“See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” Ephesians 5:15-16.

Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website. Your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

*For greater light on the theme included in this message, please visit the Eternal Security page of this website.

ILLUMINATED BUTTERFLIES IN DARKNESS

Photo credit: Flickr – Sid Mosdell    

I had a dream this morning before waking of the most beautiful butterfly flying in darkness. The butterfly was very colorful and illuminated. As it fluttered around in the darkness, it shined magnificently against the darkness of night and I was intrigued by it.

As I admired the butterfly, I knew in my heart that it represented truth in a world of darkness.

Have you ever spotted a beautiful, friendly butterfly that flew near to you, and you might have even felt endeared to it in some way? Have you ever had a beautiful butterfly visit you frequently, returning day after day?

These thoughts remind me of a very unusual situation that occurred when my son was about six years old. Levi played in the yard frequently and occasionally a little gold butterfly would flutter around him.

While I was in the yard with him one day, he brought my attention to the butterfly and he told me it came to see him. He also told me he named it “Orbity.” As unbelievable as this story is, it actually happened. As we watched Orbity flutter around Levi, Levi stuck his little finger out and called to the butterfly. Amazingly, the little butterfly landed on Levi’s finger! I was astonished as I stood in the yard and watched what was happening before my eyes. After sitting on Levi’s finger for a short while, the butterfly flew around him again for a while and then flew away.

The same thing happened again on another day! I would have never believed it, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes – twice!

Levi was in the yard playing and as I walked outside, he told me, “Orbity is here!” I went in the house to get my camera, hoping to capture a picture of it with Levi. When I came out of the house, I was amazed to see that the little butterfly was sitting on Levi’s finger again! He told me the previous time I saw the butterfly with him that Orbity came to see him, but I didn’t give it much thought, until I witnessed it for the second time! I captured a photo of this incredible sight on the second occasion.

Levi and Orbity

I started this article on February 27, 2014, the day I awoke from dreaming of a beautifully illuminated butterfly flying in the darkness of night. After starting this message about the dream, I became distracted with other articles for a while, forgetting all about this one, until today. It was also intriguing that five days ago, on March 17, 2014, I was standing in the back yard and I watched as several monarch butterflies flew by. I was reminded of my son, Levi, and the little butterfly that used to visit him. I thought to myself how sweet it would be if one of the butterflies visited me like that. Monarchs continued to fly by, until I went into the house.

The following day, on March 18^th, I went into the front yard to water some plants and to my amazement, when I stepped into the yard, about a couple of dozen monarch butterflies flew all around the yard. They had been sitting on the grass and when I walked onto it, they began flying all around me, but they didn't fly away. The sight was wonderful and I thought just maybe one of them might fly over to me, but none of them did. I thought about how precious my son was as a child and how astute it was of him to name a butterfly “Orbity” at the age of about six. I thought it must have been the Lord that inspired Levi to give that pertinent name to the butterfly.

This part of my story is also surreal. I was walking through the patio in the backyard and I spotted a beautiful monarch butterfly sitting on the wall of the house, and as I stood there watching it, it suddenly fluttered off of the wall onto the cement patio before me. I stooped down to watch it and it was flapping its lovely wings, as it walked straight to me. I was astonished as this butterfly continued to walk and flap its wings, until it was standing right in front of me. I stretched out my finger and it walked right on to my finger! It sat on my finger for a while, as I spoke to it, then it suddenly flew to my shoulder! I honestly felt that as I watched the beautiful butterflies for a few days, and since I had been thinking of my precious son, who went on to be with the Lord almost five years ago, the Lord sent this particular butterfly to visit me. 

Jesus said,

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows” Luke 12:6-7.

This passage of scripture demonstrates how much God loves the little birds, and how much more He loves all of us, whom He created in His own image.

I thought I would share these interesting events, as I delve further into what the Lord has ministered to me since my dream last month. 

The angel of the Lord told me on November 6, 2013, “teneis tinieblas (you [plural] have darkness).” There is certainly spiritual darkness (evil and depravity) all over the earth right now, which is indicative of the Lord’s soon return (Matthew 24:12).

Just as the Lord gave me a dream last month of a beautifully illuminated butterfly flying in darkness, the children of God will also soar and shine in the (spiritual) darkness radiantly and beautifully before Him. We will be strong, though evil prevails all around us; we will be victorious; we will be full of the Holy Ghost and fire (Luke 3:16) and do exploits (Daniel 11:32). 

God loves us and it is His desire that we serve Him with all of our hearts, not sometimes, not half-heartedly, but with all of our hearts.

People complain because they sometimes have many problems, illness and sorrows, but are they trusting in the Lord with all of their hearts? The apostles laid down their very lives, as many others have throughout history. Are we, in fact, willing to lay our lives down for the sake of Christ, if it comes to that?

Jesus died for our sins, so we could have eternal life. He suffered an unimaginably cruel death to pay the penalty for our sins.

Are you weary of life? Are you possibly thinking, "Is this all there is?" I can tell you most certainly, this is not all there is. There is a fabulous eternal heaven to gain:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

The Lord never promised us we would not suffer persecution in this life. In fact, the Word of God tells us,

“Yes, all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3:12.

Whatever we must endure to “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1), it will well be worth it all when we enter glory for all eternity, my friends!

The caterpillar goes through stages and these stages are just one of God’s ways of telling us that we mature to eternal life.

"The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" Romans 1:20.

The road is not always easy and the caterpillar stage is unlovely, but we will be illuminated and soar like a beautiful butterfly in the end! Glory to God!

Photo credit: wikispaces - yhsbiology - insecta

Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. For more information, please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website. Your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

ARE YOU HUNGRY FOR GOD?

In 1906, a small group of people were hungry for God in Los Angeles, California, and they began to pray daily. A year earlier, Charles Parham opened a Bible school in Houston, Texas. He had a black student, who was segregated from the rest of the church, and would sit out on the steps and listen through the doorway to the Bible teachings. That humble black man’s name was William J Seymour. Seymour believed every word and took the teachings on Acts 2 to heart. Parham remarked about Seymour, “He is the most humble man I have ever met.”

While a small group of believers prayed in a little house at 214 Bonnie Brae Street, Los Angeles, California, William J Seymour was learning ever more about the move of the Holy Ghost from the Word of God in Houston, Texas.

A woman from one of the prayer groups in California met Seymour in Houston one day and she was impressed with his Godliness. She recommended Seymour to a pastor in Los Angeles and Seymour was invited to pastor a church in LA. Seymour accepted the invitation.

Seymour preached about the gift of the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, as described in Acts 2. The congregation was not accustomed to this teaching and Seymour was promptly locked out of the church.

Hospitality was given to Seymour by another Christian and Seymour began praying many hours each day for the direction of God. Other Christians started coming to the home where Seymour stayed to pray with him and the prayer meetings lasted most of the day. He moved to the home of a Christian couple at 214 North Bonnie Brae Street, Los Angeles, CA, and he began preaching to small groups of people every night.

On April 9, 1906, seven people at the meeting were filled with the Holy Ghost and fire, with the evidence of speaking in tongues, as the Holy Ghost gave them utterance. Neighbors heard the commotion coming from the Bonnie Brae house and began to come to the nightly meetings and many others were filled with the Holy Ghost. Soon, word circulated about the revival at the small house on Bonnie Brae and crowds so huge gathered at the home, that the people decided to rent a larger building.

The meetings were moved to a large shamble of a building at 312 Azusa Street, Los Angeles, CA, which had recently been used as a stable. People came from all around to attend the profound revival on Azusa Street. Many were filled with the Holy Ghost there and miracles and healings took place during the revival, which continued every day for three years. The revival was held each and every day for three years straight, nonstop. It was not uncommon for the meetings to last from about 10 am to midnight. Something very profound was happening at the Azusa Street revival.

Offerings were never taken, but could be left at the door while exiting. Seymour never begged, pleaded, or intimidated people for money, but all of the bills were always paid! This is how God's church operates; not like the flea market sales you are seeing on television, not like the usher who holds the offering plate under your nose waiting for money. God inspires Holy Ghost filled people to give their tithes and offerings, so "there may be meat in God's house" Malachi 3:10.

If preachers preached the truth, as it is written in the Holy Word of God, they wouldn't have to worry about how much people are going to give. The people would be inspired of God to give. Preaches have evolved to begging for money, because they don't preach the WORD which inspires the people!

As the power of God moved, people would fall prostrate on the floor. They often got up speaking in other tongues. Many healings were documented during those days. 

This move of God changed people, not only in Los Angeles, but throughout the US and the world. People went from these meetings filled with the zeal of God, being filled with the “Holy Ghost and fire” and they left that place eager to win souls.

Do you want a profound experience with God? You can have it, if you “tarry” for it. If you read Acts chapter 2, you will discover that the apostles and followers of Jesus, about 120, went to an upper room in Jerusalem and waited there for the gift of the Holy Ghost, as Jesus instructed them. The scriptures tell us they “tarried” there, until they were filled.

The Azusa Street revival was no different. People tarried in prayer every day, day in and day out, for months, until the Holy Ghost fell and revival hit Los Angeles, which then spread throughout the world.

You can have this experience too, if you are willing to say “goodbye” to the world and unGodliness, and commit yourself entirely to God. The Word of God tells us,

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” Romans 12:1.

Most ministers today aren’t preaching this Word, the true Word of God today; they are preaching their own gospel, as Paul warned Timothy in God’s Word,

“Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, 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, and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables” 2 Timothy 4:2-4.

Jesus said to His apostles before He ascended to heaven,

“And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you, but tarry in the City of Jerusalem, until you are endowed with power from on high” Luke 24:49.

That message is the same for us today. How do we know the message is the same for us? If you read about the ministry of the apostles in the Book of Acts, you will know that the Holy Ghost is a gift freely given to all who believe and would like to receive it.

Paul said to certain believers in Ephesus,

“Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were you baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on Him who should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied” Acts 19:2-6.

Many people all over the world have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is the gift of God to all who believe, surrender their lives fully to Him, and ask for it.

Many people have also faked it; but if you receive the Holy Ghost, you will know beyond any doubt it is real, because it takes control of you and it is truly an overwhelming, undeniable experience.

When the 120 believers received the Holy Ghost in Jerusalem, they were accused by onlookers of “being drunk,” but Peter explained,

“There are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams; and on My servants and on My handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of My Spirit and they shall prophesy” Acts 2:15-18.

Read the Word of God daily, believe, and receive all that God has for you!

The Word of God tells us,

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled" Matthew 5:6.

THE CASE FOR CHRIST

Photo: LeeStrobel.com

Former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune, Lee Strobel, who is also a New York Times best-selling author, wrote a fascinating book, The Case for Christ.

Lee Strobel earned his Bachelor of Journalism degree at the University of Missouri and his Master of Studies in Law degree at Yale Law School.

Needless to say, the man is astute, articulate and amassed with knowledge, most specifically in the areas of law and journalism.

Strobel was an atheist, as many well-educated individuals are. It seems that frequently, once people acquire a certain higher level of worldly knowledge, ego can be an enormous hurdle when it comes to the basic understanding of God and that we are His creation. This understanding brings us down to square-one, because humility is the premise in coming to know who God really is. The Biblical principle of having child-like faith and humility in order to be accepted of God (Matthew 18:3-4), can be difficult for those who believe they have accomplished great feats on their own.

As an atheist, with a law degree and the propensity to unearth truth and weigh evidence, or the lack of it, in the balance, Lee Strobel set out to prove the case for, or against, Christ.

In his quest for truth, Strobel studied ancient history, archeological data, historical archives and he interviewed many scholars.

I will never forget one part of the evidence he brought forth in his personal testimony. Strobel said that among the strong evidence for Christ was the fact that many suffered martyrdom for Him. The apostles knew Jesus personally and most of them died a martyr’s death for because of their their faith, which is strong evidence indeed that Jesus was the Christ. Strobel’s point was, who would die for a liar and a fraud?

I had never considered those facts, until I heard Lee Strobel's testimony. 

The Apostle Paul’s conversion and martyrdom is most compelling. Paul didn’t walk and talk with Jesus in person, as did the other apostles. In fact, he was “a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee” (Acts 23:6), having studied at the feet of Gamaliel, a renowned teacher of the law in the first century. Gamaliel’s rulings appeared in the Mishnah (Jewish law) and the Apostle Paul was his student.

Paul was a devout Jew and subsequently persecuted and killed Christians, believing himself to serve God in the matter (Acts 26).

One day, as he traveled the road to Damascus to capture Christians and bring them to Jerusalem for persecution and to be killed as heretics, Jesus appeared in a great light to Paul and He said, “Saul (his name being Saul at the time), Saul, why do you persecute Me?” (Acts 9)

Paul answered Jesus and said, “Who are you, Lord?”

Jesus said, “I am Jesus whom you persecute.”

Paul said, “Lord, what will you have me to do?”

Jesus said to him, “Arise, and go into the city and it will be told you what you must do.”

Paul entered the city, being led by hand because he was blinded by his vision.

At that time, the Lord spoke to a certain disciple in Damascus by the name of Ananias. The Lord called him, “Ananias;” and Ananias said, “I am here, Lord.”

The Lord told Ananias, “Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight and ask in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for he is praying and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.”

The street called Straight still exists in Damascus today. It is called Al-Shari in Arabic and it is the very same street Paul visited and where Ananias lived during 33-36 AD approximately.

Photos: Geolocation - Straight Street (Al-Shari), Damascus and Door on Straight Street

This occurred only within approximately one to several years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. As we look at the ancient street called Straight in the picture above, which has been modernized to a certain degree (close-up original shows brick road and dirt sidewalks), it seems it wasn’t so long ago that Christ walked the earth. Having the ability to look at the very same street brings to life the encounter Paul had with our Lord and Savior.

Paul was converted on that very street. He went on to be an overseer of the early church, which is amazing.

Paul was a very educated man and a devout Jew. He was killing Christians, but after his experience with Jesus on the street called Straight, he was not only converted, but became an overseer of the church. What else, besides this miraculous event, would cause such a conversion?

Paul went on to teach, preach and oversee the church, until he was arrested and finally beheaded for his faith by Nero Caesar.

Certainly this man, Saul of Tarsus, a devout Jew, later to become the Apostle Paul and overseer of Christians, did not lay his neck on Nero’s chop block for any possibility of a deceitful lie and deception.

The Apostle Paul went through a powerful, Spirit-filled conversion and confirmation in the early church, because Jesus Christ is Lord.

Interestingly enough, even Gamaliel, a great leader of the Hebrews, astutely said,

“You men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do as touching these men (the apostles); for before these days, rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves, who was slain, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered and brought to naught. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of taxing and drew away much people after him. He also perished and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, refrain from these men and let them alone, for if this counsel, or if this work be of men, it will come to naught; but if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest happily you be found even to fight against God” Acts 5:35-39.

All of the counsel with Gamaliel at that time ended up agreeing with him, believing him to be wise.

It is most notable that the followers of Jesus Christ the Savior did not diminish, as did the others, and many, many more after them; but the followers of Christ grew to profound numbers. In fact, the following of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, without television, radio or internet, grew the world over, only starting with 12 men on foot!

The Word of God tells us,

“For God so loved the world (you and me) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16.

If you haven’t already, will you believe and receive the Savior of our souls today? The one who died in our place, to redeem us from sin and pave the way for our entrance into a holy heaven, to be with our most Holy God forever, throughout eternity?

There is only one of two places we will go for eternity, friend, heaven, or hell. Jesus spoke of the punishment of hell for those who refuse to receive His death, His atonement for our sins.

Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website. Your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.

The Lord took Mary K Baxter to see hell, so she could warn others not to go there.
The Word of God tells us there are two eternal destinies, heaven, or hell. Those who reject God will most assuredly go to this place called hell. The video above is a short segment of Mary K Baxter's testimony about the reality of hell.

Jesus said,

“If your hand offends you, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life (eternal) maimed, than having two hands, to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, where their worm dies not and the fire is not quenched” Mark 9:43-44.

In fact, Jesus’s warning is so severe, that He continued to repeat the same warning over and over, using different examples, to get the message across,

“And if your foot offends you, cut it off; it is better for you to enter halt (lame) into life (eternal), than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, where their worm dies not and the fire is not quenched” Mark 9:45-46.

He didn’t stop there…

“And if your eye offends you, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire, where their worm dies not and the fire is not quenched” Mark 9:47-48.

I can tell you this much, hell is not an allegory, it is very real and Jesus ceased not to warn against hell emphatically. He was also very descriptive about the effects of hell,

“I say unto you that many shall come from the east and west and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, but the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” Matthew 8:11-12.

God doesn't want anyone to go to hell. Jesus died for the whole world and he is calling everyone to repent and enter eternal life, but He doesn't force anyone. This is why Jesus said, “but the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” If you go to hell, you will enter there as an intruder. God has prepared heaven for everyone who will receive His Son as their Savior.

Jesus was not one to talk a lot. In fact, when He was brought before Pilate to be judged, Pilate was amazed because Jesus didn’t try to defend Himself (Matthew 27:12-13).

Yet, we see in the scriptures recorded in Mark 9, that Jesus is repeating Himself several times, fervently warning people against going to hell, in so much that He even describes that the amputation of a hand or foot, or even plucking out your eye would be better than going there!

Even so, people in the world today have their own opinions about who God is and what they want God's Holy Word to say, denying what it really says. I have had people tell me, in spite of what the Word of God says, that hell is just too awful; God would never send people to a place like that! 

The Word of God tells us in many passages of scripture how loving God is. Nevertheless, if you have ever read the Word of God in its entirety, you will understand that God is not only the epitome of love, but He is also the epitome of wrath against those who “trample under foot the Son of God.” God obviously isn't wimpy about anything. He loved us enough to die for us, but if we retain sin in this mortal body, He is a just God and at judgment, He is going to judge all sin into hell. He loves us, but in that He is just, He hates the sin. If you retain sin in your mortal body, you will end up in hell with those sins on judgment day. Sin must be cast into hell. If you hang on to it, you are going with it.

The Word of God is very clear; no sin will enter heaven.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God" 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. 

“Of how much sorer punishment, do you suppose, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God and has counted the blood of the covenant (Jesus’s blood), wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:29.

“Who knows the power of your anger? Even according to your fear, so is Your wrath” Psalm 90:11.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord; for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55:8-9.

We do not know the mind of God,

“For who has known the mind of the Lord? or who has been His counselor?” Romans 11:34.

That the Son of God – God in the flesh – suffered a horrific and painful death at the hands of those who condemned Him, but He did it for us, to pay the penalty for our sins, so we would not be condemned to hell with satan and his angels, who betrayed God. To "trample the blood of Jesus," and reject God, will cause people to go to that everlasting hell, fire and torment. For that reason alone, God has already said it is just judgment to cast people into hell, who reject His beloved Son.

Imagine your son dying on the cross for the sins of the world. Pause, and just imagine your son on that cross, suffering and dying for sinners. I have imagined it and hell seems more just in my eyes. Even still, it doesn’t matter what I think. I am not God and it doesn’t matter what my pea brain thinks.

We read a report in the news recently about a little girl who was taken by Muslim terrorists and sawed to pieces alive – alive! A Catholic nun reported this happened where she lives in Syria.

When I read such news, I have to say that hell appears to be more justifiable. Again, however, it doesn’t matter what my puny mind thinks! God is God. His Word says people are going to hell who reject God, His commandments, and who refuse to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior, the One who died for us. That’s it – period.

Now, you can receive that news, or reject it. God put it on my heart to write this message tonight; it is from the Lord, not me.

If you reject this message, you have rejected the Word of God, because I have provided scriptures from the Word of God about everything I have explained about hell. If you reject the fact that there is a hell, you will end up there, because you have failed to believe God’s Holy Word.

We will also be judged according to our “works,” not according to whether we said a sinner’s prayer one time, or maybe more, during our lifetime.

“The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. And I saw a great white throne and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” Revelation 20:10-15.

Yes, the Word of God tells us we must repent and receive Jesus as our Savior in order to be saved, but that is only the start of a new life in Christ Jesus.

The Bible tells us that after we receive Jesus as our Savior, our life will be completely changed. 

“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.

A one-time prayer, with no change, doesn’t save a person in the end. The Word of God tells us that we will have a new life in Christ Jesus. If you received the Lord at some point, but you are still living the same old sinful life you lived before you repented, you aren’t saved. You either never really repented and received Jesus sincerely, or you did briefly, but you backslid. If you backslid, the Bible tells us that we need to repent again and live for God. The Apostle John wrote to the church,

“My little children (Christians), these things write I unto you, that you sin not; and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that says, I know Him, and keeps not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” 1 John 2:1-4.

 

Sitting Outside

ARE YOU SITTING OUTSIDE, OR COMING IN THROUGH THE ROOF?

Some theologians believe that God healed only when Jesus and the apostles walked the earth. This, everyone should know, is not true.

First, God healed Abimelech on account of the prayer of a righteous man, Abraham (Genesis 20:17). So, we can see here that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). The first example of healing given in the Word of God is through the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man, Abraham.

The Word of God tells us,

“Confess your faults one to another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” James 5:16.

God has been healing people for thousands of years, long before Jesus and the apostles walked the earth, and He still heals today. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" Hebrews 13:8.

Here, God pronounces a condition whereby His people can be healed, 

“(God) said, If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God and will do that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord that heals you” Genesis 15:26.

This promise is for all of God's people, if they will just believe it.

So far, through studying what the Word of God has to say about healing, we can determine that the effectual, fervent prayers of the righteous will move God’s hand to heal, confessing our faults and praying for one another will move God’s hand to heal, and obeying God’s will and His Word will provide healing.

Next, we see that "Moses was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:3), and Moses was "faithful” before God (Numbers 12:7); therefore, when “Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech Thee,” after seven days, the Lord healed Miriam, the sister of Moses (Numbers 12:13-14). Sometimes, God doesn’t heal immediately, but it is important that we still believe and trust in His Holy Word.

If we move ahead to the New Testament and examine instances when Christ and the apostles healed folks, we will not read about any occasion when Jesus refused to heal anyone who asked Him. You can read the entire New Testament about the healings Jesus performed and you will not find an instance when Jesus said, “No, I don’t want to heal you today," or "This blessing isn't for you," or "We need a special Word from the Father first;” He never said any of that.

If we study the examples given throughout the New Testament, which was "written for our learning" (Romans 15:4), we find that for all of those whose hearts were sincere and ready to receive from God, for all of those who believed God could heal them, God provided healing. What is different today?

Today, there are physicians throughout every city, pharmacies all over the place, as well as plenty of hospitals. The world, and most of God’s people, have become accustomed to relying on all of these for healing. Most do not turn with their whole heart to God and look to Him for the healing first. It is generally the other way around. People try everything else first, then when/if they are desperate enough, they will look to God. Some trust God first, but often if they aren’t healed immediately, people are very quick to conclude that God chose not to heal them. It boils down to who you want to believe, the whole world, or God?

"God forbid; yes, let God be true, but every man a liar, as it is written, 'That you might be justified in your sayings and might overcome when you are judged" Romans 3:4.

The popular sayings, because of the weakness and frailties of people, are, "God chose not to heal;" "It isn't God's will to heal;" "God doesn't heal in our dispensation." They are all liars. Why? Because the Word of God says they are all liars, according to the testimonies provided in God's Holy Word. That's enough. If I don't receive healing, it's going to be my own fault. I can't try to place the blame on God, because He has already promised; He has already made the provision, according to His Holy Word:

"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. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" Isaiah 53:5-6 (Isaiah's prophecy of the coming Savior. [My Jewish friends, who else can fulfill this prophecy and many others like it?]).

The Word of God tells us,

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience; but let patience have her perfect work, that you might be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally and upbraids not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he who waivers is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord” James 1:2-7.

After we pray for healing, do we go away doubting, or commit to believing it will come to pass according to God's Holy Word?

Jesus healed many who had only just learned who He was; they hadn’t really had any time to commit their ways to God and live a holy life before the Lord. Jesus healed many, so they would thank God and serve the Lord with their whole hearts and be saved. It was the same during the apostles' ministries, when the gospel was just being spread throughout the world. Many were healed to glorify God and convert souls.

God will do the same thing today. God knows who will have faith and believe until they receive. He also knows when doubt is present and remains in the hearts of people, “let not that man think he shall receive anything of the Lord.” The Word of God is true, it never changes, and God doesn’t lie.

Some have been blessed with the gift of healing. The Word of God tells us,

“And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” 1 Corinthians 12:28.

We see here that God has placed certain ones in the church with the “gifts of healings.” They are gifted with the constant, unwavering faith to heal. The Bible also tells us,

“Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up and if he has committed any sins, they shall be forgiven him” James 5:14-15.

Sometimes we don't have any oil on hand. God is aware of that and He doesn't withhold for that purpose. If you have oil, use it. It demonstrates an act of faith and obedience to God's Holy Word.

We have seen some notable people throughout the church in our generation with the gifts of healing: Katherine Kuhlman, Oral Roberts, RW Schambach and there are more. My great grandmother, Emily Alice Brown, was one of them, but she was poor and she wasn't renowned. Her family and neighbors all knew where to go when they were sick though. What did these all have in common? Each of them was wholly committed to God; they lived sanctified lives, they had great faith and demonstrated no doubt in what God could do.

I will leave you with a testimony given in the Gospel of Mark:

“And there came unto Him (Jesus), bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four; and when they could not come near Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where He was, and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, 'Son, your sins be forgiven you…I say unto you, Arise, and take up your bed and go your way into your house;' and immediately he arose, took up the bed and went forth before them all, insomuch that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, We never saw it in this fashion” Mark 2:3-5, 11-12.

I dare say that if you haven’t received the Lord as your Savior, but you believe He has the power to heal your illness, if you believe Him with all of your heart and ask Him to heal you, and you intend to receive the Lord and serve Him the rest of your days, He will heal you. As Jesus said to the impotent man, who had been sick for 38 years, and lying at the pool of Bethesda, "...Behold, you are made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you" John 5:14.

I also proclaim to those of you who half-heartedly serve the Lord: If you will serve the Lord with your whole heart and surrender all to Him; If you believe Him with your whole heart, even if the entire world tells you it isn’t possible, if you deny the whole world and put all of your faith (without wavering) in the promise of God, He will heal you. How do I know this? Simply because God's Holy Word commands it.

Yes, what some say about "sickness unto death" might very well be true. It may be your time to leave this world, and when God says it’s time, it’s time. However, because God is faithful to His Word, if you believe with all of your heart, He will heal you, then you will die and leave this world just the same, because God doesn't lie. He may heal you one minute and take you to glory the next, but He is still faithful to His Word.

Are you willing to believe God, no matter what it takes, or how much time it takes? The friends of the one afflicted with palsy (paralysis) could have stayed outside and given up, but they decided it would be worth it to tear up the roof and let their loved one down to Jesus, in order to get the promise.

Sometimes a world of doubters all around you can hinder your faith and the blessings. The Word of God tells us,

"Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God..." Romans 14:22.

Sometimes, with all of the "nay sayers" around, you just have to believe God privately, because the devil is going to use people around you to discourage you, even some people who are Christians, but get out of the will of God. This is exactly why Jesus healed away from those who did not believe, or even kicked them out of a sick room (Mark 8:22-25, Mark 5:38-42)

Don't think you are going to ignore God's will, live in sin and rebellion, doubt God, have half-hearted faith, but still receive the promise of healing. It isn't going to happen.

My great grandmother, Emily Alice Brown, whose family and neighbors used to bring their sick to her for prayer and healing, sometimes said this: "If you can't pray the 'prayer of faith,' you'd better get to a doctor."

Are you ready to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website. Your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you. 

TRUSTING IN THE LORD

The world is in chaos, with famine in Africa, North Korea, China, South America, Asia and the Pacific; financial meltdowns in many nations throughout the world; great earthquakes increasing in alarming numbers; and mass animal deaths, fulfilling Hosea's prophecy (Hosea 4:3).

Nevertheless, Jesus said,

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

Before His death and resurrection, these are the Words Jesus gave to His disciples, and these same Words are given unto us. The Gospel of the Good News was not only for His disciples, but for everyone who would receive and believe it.

There are many people in the world today who want to proclaim the name of Jesus, but also want to live a lifestyle contrary to the teachings of the Lord. Just prior to the above promise of peace, Jesus said these Words,

“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My Words and My Father will love him and We will come unto him and make Our abode with him” John 14:23.

Many are perplexed because they read God’s promise of peace, but they can’t seem to acquire it.

Faith with obedience is the key.

Many people want to claim the faith, but they are rebellious in one way or another and self-willed. Jesus said,

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” John 14:15.

Many “Christians” today want to live in rebellion and disobedience, yet lay claim to the promises of God. It doesn’t work that way. This principle has nothing to do with “earning salvation.” Salvation cannot be earned; it is the free gift of God. Avoiding sin is not a “work.” If someone gets saved and avoids sin, yet does nothing more; they haven’t done any good deeds for God whatsoever, they have only avoided evil and they will still enter heaven, just as the thief on the cross. Since when is avoiding something classified as “work?” Avoidance is not laborious, in fact, it can be defined as "doing nothing." Needless to say, if we love God and keep His commandments, as Jesus taught, the righteous works will follow by default, you might say; for it would be impossible to have communion with God, yet not show forth any Fruits of the Spirit. Jesus said,

“Wherefore by their fruits, you shall know them” Matthew 7:20.

Jesus said a good tree brings forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit (Matthew 7:17).

Many people, through their own lust, bring forth “evil fruits,” yet they want to claim the promises written in the Word of God. The promises are given to the “sheep,” and Jesus said,

“My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me” John 10:27.

Are you confused because you claim to be a Christian, attend church possibly, and go through the other motions indicative of Jesus’s disciple, yet you are overcome with worry, fret, problems and possibly chaos in your life? First, answer this question before going any further, “Am I obedient to God’s Word? Am I showing forth good fruits in my life conducive to the Christian faith and a follower of Christ?”

If the answer to these questions is “yes,” then do what Peter instructed,

“Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7.

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“All things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28.

In fact, Paul is a very good example of how we should trust in the Lord. Paul said,

“Of the Jews, five times received I forty stripes, save one; three times was I beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I suffered shipwreck; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often; in perils of waters; in perils of robbers; in perils by my own countrymen; in perils by the heathen; in perils in the city; in perils in the wilderness; in perils in the sea; in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness; in watchings often; in hunger and thirst; in fastings often; in cold and nakedness…in Damascus, the governor under Aretas the King kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me, and through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall and escaped his hands” 2 Corinthians 11:24-27,32-33.

Nevertheless, he also wrote,

"Not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" Philippians 4:11.

Paul was subsequently apprehended and imprisoned, when by God’s will, his ministry came to an end. Ultimately, his head was removed from him for the sake of Christ.

Before he was beheaded, Paul wrote to Timothy,

“I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith; henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing” 2 Timothy 4:6-8.

Do you love the thought of His appearing, or do thoughts of His appearance possibly give you thoughts of wanting to hide from Him? When Adam was guilty, the Word of God tells us that he hid himself from the presence of God (Genesis 3:8). Which would be your response when He returns?

James the Apostle and brother of Jesus wrote,

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience; but let patience have her perfect work, that you might be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally and upbraids (rebukes) not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he who waivers is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” James 1:2-8.

There is a very old gospel song called, “Trust and Obey.” This is the key to acquiring the peace of God.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” Isaiah 26:3.

If you trust the Lord, you will certainly obey Him. Most people will obey their employer, because their jobs mean a lot to them and they don't want to forfeit their paycheck. Albeit, much of the world is so careless with their eternal souls, or at the very least, they take advantage of God's patience and mercy. This certainly is the time of God's grace, but it will end someday soon. The Word of God tells us,

"Enter in at the straight gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many go in thereat; because straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leads unto life and few there be that find it" Matthew 7:13-14.

Are you saved? Have you received the Lord as your Savior? If not, please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website. Your eternal destination depends on it. God bless you.

"Faith - the evidence of things not seen" Hebrews 11:1 8/29/13 by LA

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Do we fully understand what God is telling us here, do we grasp it? Faith is "evidence" of things "not seen." It's already done, by God's will, His mercy and grace, and our faith!

Lets take a look at some healing events recorded in the scriptures: A centurion had a servant who was "grievously tormented" with palsy and he sought Jesus to heal him. Jesus agreed to go to his house to heal the servant, but the centurion told Jesus he was not worthy that Jesus should come to his home, but he believed if Jesus would only say the words, his servant would be healed. Jesus said, "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel" Matthew 8:10. "And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go your way and as you have believed, so be it done unto you; and his servant was healed in the same hour" Matthew 8:13. There was another woman who was desperate for healing, as she had a bleeding disorder for 12 years. As Jesus walked, she touched the hem of His garment, believing she would be healed. "Jesus turned around and when He saw her, He said, 'Daughter, be of good comfort, your faith has healed you;' and the woman was made whole from that hour" Matthew 9:22. These, it seems, were healed "within the hour."

There are other miracles recorded in the Word of God which occurred "immediately:" A leper came to Jesus, worshiping Him, and he said to Him, "If You will, You can make me clean." "And Jesus put forth His hand and touched him, saying, 'I will, be clean.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed" Matthew 8:2-3. As Jesus walked along the road to Jerusalem, there were two blind men who called out to Him for mercy. The crowds tried to silence the blind men, but they called out all the more, "Have mercy on us, oh Lord, Son of David; and Jesus stood still......" Matthew 20:31. As I read this passage in the Word of God this morning, I paused and contemplated it for a while. God moved on my heart and I began to cry. The presence of the Holy Ghost fell all over me. I could feel the compassion Jesus had for these two blind men, who were calling out after Him, even though the crowds were trying to shut them up.

Crowds... If you are looking for confirmation and encouragement from the "crowds" when you need a miracle, you won't find it there.

I thought to myself how very desperate these two blind men were for the opportunity to see. They didn't pay attention to the crowds, as the crowds tried to silence them - after all the great and wonderful Savior was passing by - and these two blind men were causing a ruckus! Jesus suddenly stopped and the multitude following Him at that moment had to stop as well. Jesus called the two blind men over to Him and asked them, "What would you have me do for you?" Matthew 20:32. As I was reading what Jesus said, the Spirit of the Lord asked me, "How bad do you want it?" I didn't need a miracle at the moment, but I knew God was conveying to me that in order to receive their healing, some of these people had to ignore the crowds and opinions of the multitudes and go after what they wanted from God against all opposition.

The Word of God says, "Let God be true, but every man a liar" Romans 3:4. In other words, even if the whole world is lying to you and they are against what the Word of God is saying, don't believe them; believe God's Word instead. If we have to stand alone in our faith, so be it! Believe God, my friends; you will never be sorry!

When Jesus was in Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Him. Jesus took the blind man out of the town. Why do you suppose that is? I believe Jesus didn't want doubters and unbelievers interfering with what He was about to do. The Word of God then tells us, "And when He had spit on his eyes (oh yes, the crowds would have just loved that!) and put His hands upon him, He asked him if he could see. And he looked up and said, 'I see men as trees walking.'" Mark 23-24. That would be enough for the crowds to go wild. First, many would accuse Jesus of being unclean, by spitting in the man's eyes, then they would have criticized how the blind could only see just a little, "men as trees." "After that, Jesus put His hands again upon his eyes and made him look up; and he was restored and saw every man clearly" Mark 8:25.

Obviously, this healing did not occur instantly. Too often people throw up their hands and walk away discouraged if they don't see an immediate manifestation of complete healing, or other prayer answered. The Word of God is very clear. We are not to expect every prayer to be answered instantly; sometimes the process takes faith and patience, and we are not to depend on the manifestation in order to believe and have faith. We are to have faith in God, as we pray, and wait with expectation for the answer, not giving up and not heeding to disappointment. The Bible tells us, "Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering; for he who wavers is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he will receive anything of the Lord" James 1:6-7. Hold out, be steadfast and unmovable. God bless you.

The First Volunteer 8/10/2013 by LA

John the Revelator was taken up into heaven and he was allowed to see (in the Spirit - for flesh cannot see God) God sitting on His throne, holding a book sealed with seven seals. A mighty angel then proclaimed that no man in heaven, or earth, or under the earth (those not resurrected yet) was able to open the seals, sealed from the foundation of the earth. John began to mourn, because no one was worthy to open the seals, but one of the elders in heaven told him not to weep, because the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Jesus) prevailed to open the book (Revelation 5).

Truth and salvation had been shut up and sealed from man, until Jesus volunteered Himself to bring truth and salvation to us (Matthew 13:35). The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), is the Son of God and One with the Father (John 1:1,14). He gave His life willingly (John 10:17,18) to redeem us from sin and bring the fulfillment of God's Word to the world. So, Jesus left His throne in glory to die for our sins, taking our place. 

Jesus said, "As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you; continue in My love. This is My commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you" John 15:9,12.

The Lord has prepared unspeakable blessings and riches in heaven for those who love Him and keep His commandments (1 Corinthians 2:9). We must all ask ourselves if we are at least willing to do a reasonable service for the Lord. 

The last words Jesus spoke to His disciples, as He ascended up into heaven, was, "You shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth" Acts 1:8.

Jesus spilled His precious blood on Calvary's cross to pay the penalty for our sins, so we could enter heaven, God's holy dwelling place, which no one can enter, except he who is also holy. Should we not at least do what He commanded, as He ascended up into heaven, "be witnesses?"

I spent the better part of 22 years ministering to mostly elderly people in a convalescent hospital. These were not only sick and shut in, unable to attend church services outside of the hospital, but they were also on the brink of eternity, nearing the end of their life here on this earth. What was most rewarding during those years, was not only visiting and bringing cheer to the sick and lonely, but bringing souls into the kingdom of God just before they stepped into eternity - what a tremendous opportunity given to me by God! I wouldn't trade those years and that work of God for anything this world has to offer! This life is extremely brief compared to all of eternity and there is no greater reward life can offer than to be able to meet up with souls in heaven, who were spared eternal hell, because I had the privilege to witness to them and lead them to the Lord!

Will you be a volunteer after the manner of Jesus? Will you love others, as Jesus loved us and gave His life for us, enough to give them the Words of Life and lead them to Jesus? The Lord is a gentle and loving God and He will not force us to do His will. Just as Jesus gave His life for us willingly, if we do anything at all for Him in return, we must do it out of love for God and do it willingly. Will you be the next volunteer? 

* If you are interested in leading the lonely and dying to Jesus, please consider visiting those who are on the brink of eternity in convalescent hospitals. If this is a work you believe God is calling you to do, but you don't have a minister's license, or a church to back you, I recommend that you go into your local convalescent hospital and ask to speak with the Activities Director, or the Administrator of the facility. Introduce yourself and let that person know you are willing to volunteer some time visiting and helping their residents. This is a good way to get "a foot in the door." God will lead you as to how and when you can witness to patients. I worked in a particular convalescent hospital for about a year before deciding to hold church services in that facility on a regular basis. By that time, the staff knew me and there was no hesitation on the part of the Activities Director to schedule the church services on the calendar. These are some suggestions and the work is extremely rewarding and beneficial in winning lost souls, but the most important thing to do before starting out is to pray first and foremost for God's direction and His divine hand in such a ministry, then you will receive His anointing and the work will be prosperous.

God bless you in whatever work you are willing to do for Him, in His Holy Name.

"For I was hungry and you gave Me meat; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came unto Me. Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You as a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison and come unto You? The King shall answer and say unto them, Truly I say unto you, in as much as you have done it unto the least of these, My brethren, you have done it unto Me" Matthew 25:35-45.