11/29/17 THIS IS FOR FUN

11/29/17 THIS IS FOR FUN

(but it might even have value)

I thought about writing a weekly article entitled,
"I'M GLAD YOU ASKED."

Then I realized that I am answering questions people are not asking, so, I decided to call the weekly article,
"I KNOW YOU DIDN'T ASK...

BUT JUST IN CASE YOU ARE INTERESTED."

Then I realized that most people are not really interested in the things I write about, so, I decided to call it,
"I KNOW YOU DIDN'T ASK...

AND,

YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED...

BUT HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED AND HERE ARE SOME THINGS IN WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTED."

11/26/17 IT IS A LIFETIME ENDEAVOR

11/26/17 IT IS A LIFETIME ENDEAVOR

(This includes being born of the Spirit, obeying the truth, filled with the Holy Spirit, purified, growth in grace and knowledge, death to self, self discipline and diligence in following Christ)

Parents (God, natural parents, spiritual leaders) desire growth, development, maturing, perfecting to take place in their children. In Galatians 4:19, Paul states his repeated and continued desire to see Christ fully formed in his spiritual children. Nine months of parental anticipation is crowned with the birth of the child. The nine months is a time of growth and change for the preborn, culminating in a live birth. The preborn is formed for the crises event of entering and living in the world. But birth into this world is just the beginning of growth and changes that will continue for a lifetime as a healthy and normal person.

Paul points out that he was again travailing in behalf of the Galatian believers who had turned back to legalism and trusting the flesh rather than continuing in the Spirit by faith. Parents also travail throughout the life of a child, hoping to lead that child into becoming the adult that God intended him/her to become.

Remember, we BECAME believers through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, but we are still BECOMING the children of God, until we WILL HAVE BECOME partakers of the Divine nature.

The redemptive work of God begins before our rebirth, is manifested through the new birth, is established through the fulness of the Holy Spirit by entire sanctification and is perfected through growth in grace and knowledge through discipline and diligent faith until Christ is fully formed within the believer and the believer becomes a partaker of Divine nature.

Loving parents and loving ministers long for the full development of the children, whether natural or spiritual. Sadly, many of those who are born again never enter into perfection of love and perfection of heart. Sadly, many of those who enter the fulness of the Spirit through total surrender and faith in the purifying work of the Holy Spirit do not continue to grow or continue to become conformed to the image of Jesus, because they grow weary in well doing or because their living faith becomes dead legalism or static formalism.

I cannot tell you how disturbing it is to spend your life trying to lead someone into the fulness of the blessing of God, while they are self deceived and fall back into self satisfaction.

Don't come short of the whole counsel and work of God.

(These are passages, which address these points. I hope you come back and meditate on the great truths of these passages.)

PAUL TRAVAILED AGAIN FOR CHRIST TO BE FORMED IN THE GALATIANS
Galatians 4:19
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

GALATIAN BELIEVERS HAD TURNED AWAY FROM CHRIST AND TURNED TO THE FLESH, RESULTING IN THEM HAVING FALLEN FROM GRACE
Galatians 1:6-9
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Galatians 3:1-3
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 5:1-5
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Galatians 5:7-9
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

THERE ARE STEPS, PHASES IN BECOMING THE PEOPLE OF GOD
1 Peter 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:22-23
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Romans 8:29
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Colossians 1:27-29
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Matthew 5:6
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

1 John 3:2-3
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Ephesians 4:11-15
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Ephesians 3:14-19
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

2 Peter 1:5-11
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

11/24/17 ARE YOU TIRED OF THE DEVIL ATTACKING GOD'S SALVATION FROM SIN?

11/24/17 ARE YOU TIRED OF THE DEVIL ATTACKING GOD'S SALVATION FROM SIN?

TIRED OF THE DEVIL SAYING THAT SALVATION DOES NOT ENABLE SAVED PEOPLE TO BE GOOD AND DO GOOD? In fact, God expects us to be good and to do good. Check out what God says.

GOD EXPECTS AND ENABLES BELIEVERS TO BE GOOD and TO DO GOOD

The Bible clearly says that no one is good on his own, but when a person becomes a Christian, he is transformed and empowered to be good and to do good. Here are almost 80 verses in the New Testament that affirm the fact that believers are expected and equipped to BE GOOD and DO GOOD. I encourage you to read these verses in their own context. I have not commented at this time. Just allow God to speak to you through His word. If you have any questions, please message me.

GOD'S PEOPLE CAN AND SHOULD BE FILLED WITH GOODNESS

GOODNESS IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. (3)
Romans. 15:14
14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Galatians. 5:22
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith

Ephesians 5:9
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

GOOD TREES PRODUCES GOOD FRUIT (8)
Matthew 3:10
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Matthew 7:17
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Matthew 7:18
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Matthew 7:19
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Matthew 12:33
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Matthew 12:34
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Matthew 12:35
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Luke 6:43
43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

GOOD GROUND PRODUCES FRUIT (6)
Matthew 13:8
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Matthew 13:23
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Matthew 13:24
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

Matthew 13:27
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

Matthew 13:37
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

Matthew 13:38
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

GOOD FISH (1)
Matthew 13:48
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

DOING GOOD... GOOD WORKS (42)
Matthew 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:44
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mark 3:4
4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

Luke 6:27
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Luke 6:33
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

Luke 6:35
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

John 5:29
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Acts 4:9
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

Acts 9:36
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

Romans 2:10
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

Romans 12:21
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 13:3
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

Romans 14:16
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

1 Corinthians 15:33
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

1 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

1 Corinthians 9:8
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Galatians 6:10
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 4:28
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Ephesians 4:29
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Ephesians 6:8
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Colossians 1:10
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

1 Thessalonians 5:15
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:21
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

2 Thessalonians 2:17
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

1 Timothy 2:10
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

1 Timothy 5:10
10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

1 Timothy 5:25
25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

1 Timothy 6:18
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

2 Timothy 2:21
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

2 Timothy 3:17
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Titus 1:16
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Titus 2:7
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Titus 2:14
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus 3:1
1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

Hebrews 10:242
4 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Hebrews 13:16
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Hebrews 13:21
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

James 3:13
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

James 4:17
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

1 Peter 2:12
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 3:11
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

1 Peter 3:16
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

THE GOOD... MAN, SERVANT (12)
Matthew 5:45
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 22:10
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

Matthew 25:21
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Luke 6:45
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh

Luke 19:17
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

Luke 23:50
50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

Acts 11:24
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

Romans 5:7
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

2 Timothy 3:3
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Titus 1:8
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

Titus 2:5
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

1 Peter 2:18
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

1 Peter 4:10
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

GOD IS GOOD
Matthew 19:16
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

Matthew 19:17
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is,God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

JESUS IS GOOD (2)
John 10:11
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

John 10:14
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

JESUS DID GOOD (3)
John 10:32
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

John 10:33
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Acts 10:38
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

FOLLOWERS OF GOOD (2)
1 Peter 3:13
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

3 John 1:11
11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

11/23/17 HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY, Y'ALL

11/23/17  HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY, Y'ALL

Psalm 100:4

4 ...BE THANKFUL UNTO HIM, AND BLESS HIS NAME.

Psalm 107:1-2
1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good...
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so...

Here are some THANKS GIVING verses to consider today (or any day). I encourage you to take the time (if not today) to look at these verses in their context and jot down your thoughts. HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY, Y'ALL

Psalms 26:7
7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Psalms 69:30
30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalms 95:2
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Psalms 100:1-5
1 A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalms 107:1-2

1  O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

Psalms 147:7
7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:

Philippians 4:6
6 Be careful (be anxious is better translation) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Colossians 2:6-7
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

11/23/17 READ IT RIGHT

11/23/17 READ IT RIGHT

Hey, y'all did read that verse that says, "If you don't confess Jesus as your Lord and if you don't believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved, because you can't add anything to your salvation," right?
ME NEITHER TOO.
But some people read God's actual word as if that is what it says, or as if that is what God meant when He said the following...
Romans 10:9-11
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Believing in the heart leads to confessing with the mouth and living in submission to His Lordship. It is one thing to say, "Jesus is Lord," as a statement of fact concerning His Divine office, it is another to say, "Jesus is Lord," in reference to our own subjection to the rule of God. It is by subjecting to His rule that we receive salvation. At least according to God.

11/23/17 THE REAL REASON

11/23/17 THE REAL REASON

I know some people do not believe the Bible is the infallible and authoritative revelation of God. It is not because the Bible lacks supporting evidence, because it does have the evidence. They do not believe the word of God because they do not want to live the life that God calls them to live. After all, they believe other things with far less evidence and some things that have no evidence. It is not a head problem they have, it is a heart problem, a spiritual problem. They do not want to surrender their lives to Jesus as Lord of their lives.

John 3:17-21
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

11/22/17 SAY WHAT?

11/22/17 SAY WHAT?

Folks say God delivered them from keeping God's law (commandments). Say what? ⬇️

GOD SAYS...

John 14:15
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:10
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

1 John 2:3-6
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1 John 3:24
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1 John 5:2-5
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

11/22/17 TINY ISRAEL

11/22/17 TINY ISRAEL

ISN'T IT FUNNY (NOT) THAT PEOPLE WHO PROTEST BULLYING AND BIGOTRY, HATE TINY ISRAEL?

11/22/17 DOING HIS WILL, DEPARTING FROM EVIL, KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS

The same man yesterday also said, "We can't add anything to God's salvation."
I said, "No we can't add anything, but we must either accept it or reject it."

He also said, "Christ did not die for everyone."
I responded with God's word, "...God is the Savior of all men."

God's word means exactly what it says. God is the Savior of ALL men. Every child of Adam is conceived with a sinful nature, which disqualifies him/her from heaven and the presence of God. When Jesus died, He atoned for the entire human race, saving everyone by His blood, restoring everyone to a right relationship with God. If a child lives to the point of accountability, then that child will be held accountable for his own sins (which separate him from God), at which point that person must believe on Christ, repent, confess his sins and follow Jesus in obedience.

Following Jesus in obedience is the proof that the person has believed on Christ. Remember, the family of God is made up of those who do the will of the Father.
Matthew 12:49-50
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Following Jesus in obedience is the seal of God on a believer.
2 Timothy 2:19
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Following Jesus in obedience is how people know that we are the children of God.
1 John 2:3-4
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Doing the will of God is not adding to God's salvation, it is the plan of salvation.
Departing from evil is not adding to God's salvation, it is the purpose of salvation.
Keeping the commandments of God is not adding to God's salvation, it is the proof of salvation.

11/21/17 QUIT BLAMING GOD

11/21/17 QUIT BLAMING GOD

Someone told me yesterday that the elect are the ones who are called.

I responded with God's word,
Matthew 22:14
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

The other person smiled and then said, as a qualifier,
"The Effectual Calling."

This is sinning religion's way of disqualifying the call of God. They say that God only calls the "elect" with an EFFECTUAL CALLING (indicating that God's call of the elect will effect salvation), but God calls some people, without intending to save them from their sins. Such duplicity does not exist with God. He does not call people without His willingness and desire to save them.

HERE IS THE PROBLEM. It is not that God only calls some people honestly to salvation, resulting in salvation, but He calls others in a mock, deceitful, insincere call, because He has no desired to save them.
NO, NO, NO. The effectual call (so called) is effectual because the person chooses to receive the call. It is not ineffectual because God is insincere or because God has not made provision for that person's salvation. IT IS INEFFECTUAL BECAUSE OF THE PERSON'S REFUSAL TO ALIGN WITH THE WILL OF GOD.

Calvinism and Reformed theology blames God for people not receiving an effectual calling, when in reality it is the fault of the person who refuses to believe, receive and obey God.

When you get down to it, ELECT means CHOSEN. God's calling people to salvation is real, for the elect and the non elect. It is the response of the sinner that determines whether the calling is effectual or not.

11/21/17 BE CAREFUL LITTLE FINGERS WHAT YOU TYPE

11/21/17 BE CAREFUL LITTLE FINGERS WHAT YOU TYPE

It is hard to live with personal, legitimate regrets, it is haunting to live with false accusations made public by loved ones, regardless of their reason. Though, "I am sorry," never pays the bill, it at least allows for some kind of settlement. If you have allowed your anger to strike out at someone, be sure to take steps toward reconciliation, even if you cannot right the wrong you have caused. Saving a relationship is possible, even if saving someone's dignity and reputation is lost.

The internet is neither good nor bad, inherently, but it is a powerful instrument for both good and evil. Be careful this year not to use this tool to hurt someone by false accusations, or publicly revealing personal anger.

One of the problems with something being written is that it is a constant attack, long after any incident (real or imagined) has passed.
One of the problems with something being written on the internet is that a person can be slandered and ridiculed constantly, to the whole world, whether it is accurate or not.

Someone may feel personal satisfaction in publicly slandering another, but that accusation (even when it is false) always hangs around the other person's neck, like a number on a criminal. If the accused is a believer then they are robbed of their influence, whether the accusations were accurate or misrepresented.

Love covers a multitude of sins that others may have committed against us, and love keeps us from holding others up to open disdain.

Beloved, let us love one another. (1 Jn. 4:7)

1 Corinthians 13:1-13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

11/20/17 WE BETTER BE CHANGING

11/20/17 WE BETTER BE CHANGING

LIFE IS DYNAMIC, NOT STATIC. Change is essential to
spiritual growth and life.⬇️

IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR CHRISTIANS TO BE IN A CHANGE MODE.

Not only does God require miraculous, instantaneous transformation through the new birth and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, He requires constant changes throughout our lives.

Some changes will be small, almost hidden to others, but they are essential. Some changes will be more obvious, and we must be willing to allow God to accomplish His will in us.

The changes will internal as well as external. They will be simple as well as difficult. They will be welcomed as well as invasive. They will be popular as well as despised by others.

People don't like change, but it is essential for advancement and betterment.

11/20/17 WHO YOU LISTENING TO?

11/20/17 WHO YOU LISTENING TO?

Folks often tell me,

"I don't need to go to church."

But God said,
"Forsake not gathering together..."

hmmm?

God said,
Hebrews 10:24-25
(24) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
(25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

I suggest that we are seeing "the day approaching." So this might not be the best time to forsake gathering together in worship, study, praise.

11/19/17 LIFE RING, NOT AN ANCHOR

11/19/17 LIFE RING, NOT AN ANCHOR

JESUS IS THE LIFE RING THAT LIFTS US UP, NOT AN ANCHOR THAT PULLS US DOWN.
When I present Jesus, salvation or the Bible to folks, most of them act like I a trying to destroy their lives, when in fact I am offering them life. It is like throwing a life ring to a drowning person, but he thinks I am throwing an anchor.

People resist and reject Christ because of DESIRE for sin, and/or the DECEPTION of Satan. The person who rejects the message of life is either holding onto his tawdry pleasures and paltry treasures, or he is blinded by Satan to the truth of the gospel. But in order to take hold of Jesus, we must trust Him and we must turn loose of the things that are dragging us down.

Jesus lifts people up, sin drags people down.
Jesus saves, sin destroys.
Jesus is the great Giver, sin is the great taker..
Jesus is life, sin is death.

11/18/17 INFO FOR SPIRITUAL DNA

11/18/17 INFO FOR SPIRITUAL DNA
(see previous post and try this out for a Bible study with friends or family.)

God created Adam in His Own image and Eve was taken from the side of Adam, thus sharing the same nature or image of God, therefore God's word says that male and female were created in the image of God.
Genesis 1:27
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

In the Luke linage Adam is referred to as being the "son of God" (coming from God). This is in a string of verses tracing the lineage of Christ through Mary. Adam was the "son of God" (offspring of God) by creation, not by nature. In other words, God created Adam His own likeness. Adam was not God, nor the Son of God by nature, as in the case of Jesus. Remember, the term, "son of God" is used in various ways in the Bible.

SON OF GOD (as a title).

ANGELS, having been created by God, were called, "sons of God" (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7).

ADAM, the first man created, and created in the image of God was called, "son of God" (Luke 3:38).

JESUS, Who is God by nature, is called, "the Son of God" (John 3:16). Jesus is eternal, He has always been one with the Father and Holy Spirit, but He became a Man (also known as the Last Adam and the Second Man (1 Corinthians 15:45-47), accomplishing what the first Adam failed to do in producing a holy human family. Jesus is both The Son of God and God the Son.

ISRAEL, as a nation, was called the son of God, having been chosen by God as His channel of blessing (Exodus 4:22; Hosea 11:1).

CHRISTIANS are sons of God by redemption (being born of God, John 1:12; 1 John 5:1) and also sons of God by adoption (Romans 8:5).

ADAM'S ESTRANGEMENT
Though Adam was created in the likeness and image of God (Genesis 1:26), he sinned against God and lost his innocence and holiness of nature, being corrupted by the sinful nature. Adam therefore became the father of a sinful race (Romans 5:12-5:19), passing his own likeness to his descendants (Genesis 5:3) rather than the likeness of God (Genesis 5:1), being the progenitor of the human race.

GOD'S PLAN
God was not surprised or caught off guard. He had planned to provide salvation to lost mankind. That is the reason for the first Messianic prophecy (Genesis 3:15) and the hope of Eve for a man-child (Genesis 4:1). The promise was for the woman to bring forth a child, which would not be the offspring of a man, but rather from God (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6), who would rule the world in power and peace. This is why the virgin birth was essential (Matthew 1:18-25).

We were all born of the flesh, human and sinful natures, and we all sinned, separating us from God. God's provision for reconciliation regenerates and adopts us into the family of God. We are not children of God by good works, but by faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26).

God designed the human race with the capacity for immortality. However, those who refuse to receive Christ as Savior are still in their sins and therefore separated from God. This is why Jesus said that we must be born again, or born of the Spirit. There must be a natural, a physical birth and there must also be a new birth of second birth or birth of the spirit brought about by the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-7). There will be a resurrection of all people, some to eternal life and some to eternal torment . Those who are born only of the flesh, are also known as children of the devil and will be raised to eternal torment, but those born of the Spirit are part of the resurrection of life (John 5:28-29).

Check your spiritual DNA (your spiritual lineage). If you trust Christ to forgive and transform and empower you to live as His child, you are saved. If you are yet in your sins or trusting in any other deliverance, you are lost forever. We know we are the children of God when we do the will of God (Matthew 12:50; 1 John 3:8-10).

11/17/17 TRY THIS

11/17/17 TRY THIS

A CONVERSATION STARTER AT YOUR NEXT GET TOGETHER (which could end up being your last one).

I admit that there are good reasons to research your DNA. It is not a bad thing, though it may cause personal angst. Sadly, there are very few people who will research their spiritual "DNA" (in other words, their spiritual lineage), which is far more important.

We all come from the same family tree physically, but the vital and urgent question is, WHO IS YOUR FATHER. Unless a person turns from sin and trusts in Jesus to forgive and make him/her a child of God, then that person is a child of the devil and will spend eternity in torment, away from God and His family.

As interesting and even as helpful as it may be to know our natural lineage, it is eternally essential to make sure that we have a spiritual lineage through Christ. Without Him, no one has eternal life.

11/17/17 SOCIETAL DECAY

11/17/17 SOCIETAL DECAY

Gender confused people use to be called, "shims." Now they are called normal.

Isaiah 5:20-21
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

11/16/17 THE NET HOUSE

11/16/17 THE NET HOUSE

Is a phrase that,
Implies fishermen (or fishers of men).
It also implies nets.
It also implies mending nets.
It also implies men working together.

Sadly
There are very few people who have heard or heeded the call of Jesus to become fishers of men.
There are even fewer who are trained in casting or fishing a net (evangelizing the lost).
There are even fewer who mend nets (maintain their skills, tools, opportunities, relationships) in the work of God.

Sometimes I see people NETworking in behalf of their "cause," or keeping in touch with friends and loved ones, which are reasonable activities.

I also have friends who can post that they lost a bobby pin or they broke a nail, or they are hoping to get compliments on their "new look," and their friends will light up the computer screen with sympathy, advice, offers to help or lofty words of encouragement.

And of course, the wicked people online are constantly networking to bring chaos into our society.

I think it is sad that in this day of wild confusion that there are so few believers NETworking together on the internet to "cast" the net of truth and "spread" the good news to other people. It is good to network our hobbies, our causes, our excitement and our assistance to other people. BUT it is vital to use the tools God gives us in spreading the good news of the gospel.

Let's Go Fishing.

11/16/17 FOLLOWING EUROPE DOWN THE WRONG ROAD

11/16/17 FOLLOWING EUROPE DOWN THE WRONG ROAD

America should have learned from Europe's suicidal steps of exchanging Biblical authority for "Liberal Theology," rule of law for "political correctness," personal responsibility for "herd mentality." Even today America ignores the "Black Plague" of oppression that is blinding people to the light of the gospel and extinguishing the flame of liberty in Europe

Every day Europe suffers greater losses to the blood thirsty and power hungry infestation swarming them from across the Mediterranean. Yet Liberalism has deadened the senses and sensibilities of a Bible rejecting society, like the venom of a poisonous spider paralyzes its victim, while it binds them in silken cords.

The only hope for America is to turn from the path of self destruction and yield to the rule of God through Christ. Sadly, I don't see it happening. However, as many as call on the Name of the Lord Jesus shall be saved. Don't allow Satan to anesthetize you and take you captive. Abandon the sinking ship of self and State and let Jesus save you from this lost and rebellious generation.

As the world succumbs to the powers of darkness, God is calling people to repentance, redemption and the ministry of reconciliation.

As God said to Paul,
Acts 26:16-18
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

11/16/17 INVESTING IN ETERNITY

11/16/17 INVESTING IN ETERNITY

Another awesome midweek service, for young and old alike. We addressed various aspects of practical Christianity.

It included discussions about the Biblical view of taking oaths, making promises, pledging allegiance, violence and peace making, the mental health industry, the special needs industry (including doctors, drug companies, public education, teachers, which requires tax payer support), modernism's twisting of Scripture and rejection of holiness, the cost of faithfully following Christ...

AS WELL AS questions and answers about the Second Coming (the catching away, the return), the total lostness of those who are left behind after having heard the gospel. There were other subjects as well.

I don't think we were done in 60 minutes, again (smile).

11/15/17 GOD WANTS YOUR WHOLE SELF

11/15/17 GOD WANTS YOUR WHOLE SELF

God created us as Psycho/Physical Totalities. Some would say that we are "body and soul," or "the inner man and the outer man." The Bible refers to us as being "body, soul and spirit."

The BODY is our "other consciousness" of the material world through our five senses (seeing, hearing smelling, tasting and touching).
The SOUL is our "self consciousness" through our five soulish senses (reason, emotion, desire, conscience and will).
The SPIRIT (the human spirit, not the Holy Spirit) is our "God consciousness."

God made Adam from the dust of the earth (body), and breathed into his nostrils the Breath of life (spirit), and man became a living being (soul). God created Adam with soundness of body, soul and spirit. God gave Adam an environment that was conducive to his total well being. The only proper environment for man is the presence of God. When man is out of correspondence with his proper environment death is the end result. Adam's sin removed him from God's ordained environment, and subsequently all of mankind has become estranged from God and separated from our intended environment.

While man is body, soul and spirit, and the whole man is infected and affected by sin, the fact is that sin is the result of man's rejection of God's will. God endowed the human soul with the ability to make right and wrong decisions, and through the atonement of Christ, we are enabled to make right decisions. It is our soul that either accepts God's rule or rejects God's rule. Accordingly, we then yield our soul and body to God or we make them the slaves of sin and darkness. Sin does not reside in our body, but our body can be the servant of sin, just as our minds can be the servants of sin.

This is why it is important to bring our whole person into subjection to God. The way we live our lives physically and mentally impacts our relationship with God.

BODY
Romans 6:12-23
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SOUL
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT
1 Thessalonians 5:23
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

11/14/17 A KEY TO SUCCESS

11/14/17 A KEY TO SUCCESS

Dealing with weaknesses is vital to succeeding, regardless of your strengths. 

DEALING WITH WEAKNESSES
This is true in the natural realm as well as the spiritual realm.

Spiritually we are totally unable to save ourselves (therefore we are spiritual failures) because of inherent sin (which is more than just weakness, but it is the ultimate and absolute weakness that we must deal with). The way we deal with the weakness of sin and separation from God is by trusting (believing, following, obeying) Christ, as He enables us.

In the natural realm, as believers and non believers, God has given us specific strengths. Our personal strengths may be physical, athletic, artistic, intellectual, organizational, personality, intuitiveness, sensitivity, decisiveness, courage. These strengths can be improved upon and others can be added through personal pursuit and discipline, and especially through submissive dependence on God.

The areas of our lives, in which we are not endowed with strengths, are our areas of weakness. In fact, misunderstanding our strengths or depending on our strengths (rather than God) can blind us to our weaknesses or intensify our weaknesses. Pride is the corrupter and destroyer of success.

People (saved or unsaved) who have succeeded in various pursuits are usually people who recognize their own strengths and weaknesses. They feed their strengths and they deal with their weaknesses. Dealing with weaknesses requires honest evaluation, acceptance of reality, discipline to overcome, dedication to take the hard steps of correction, dependence on other people.
There are many people with great strengths who have failed, while others with lesser strengths have succeeded because they dealt with their weaknesses.

Though I have separated the spiritual from the natural in this article, the principles are basically applicable to both realms. Sadly, when a person succumbs to failure in the natural, they also fail in the spiritual. However, the person who succeeds too often thinks that he has succeeded without God and he/she too will fail in the spiritual realm. Still, if a person recognizes his weaknesses and deals with his weaknesses in the natural realm, he/she is more likely to succeed in the spiritual realm than the person who surrenders to failure..

11/13/17 INDIVIDUAL ELITISM

11/13/17 INDIVIDUAL ELITISM
I just read an article, written by a law school professor, echoing my long held position that our society has become morally and intellectually self righteously aloof. For decades I have watched these aspects of human pride build walls of elitism, shutting out any and all information that does not agree with that person's viewpoint. This more recently bold and aggressive arrogance is the development and expression of man's inherent exaggerated self esteem (pride).

This pride precludes the authority of parents, pastors, law, traditions and ultimately the authority of God. Each person becomes a, "law unto himself." Reason is basically an unknown and unwelcomed factor, since reason requires honest evaluation and acceptance of ideas, which conflict with personally held ideas (regardless of how briefly held or how groundless the personal ideas may be). Carnality has always resisted and rejected legitimate authority, but these last several decades have seen this rebellion unleashed more virulently in the west, in home, church and government. This has made evangelism, discipling, leadership, authority, true education almost impossible.

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

If people are going to become the people God wants them to be, they must renounce their haughtiness and be filled with God's word and Holy Spirit, and they must allow God to transform them into the likeness of Christ, removing "self" from the throne of their own heart.

11/12/17 DON'T MISS THE GREAT GET TOGETHER

11/12/17 DON'T MISS THE GREAT GET TOGETHER

I found a treasure trove in my Desk Top Computer today. They are photos and videos of my grandchildren, which I have taken over the years. We have had some really good times together. God intended for life to be without end, filled with love, laughter, joy, praise and worship. Be sure to use these few moments to lead someone into eternity with God. You really don't want to miss that.

2 Corinthians 4:14-18
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

11/11/17 FOLLOW UP

11/11/17 FOLLOW UP

As I have been reworking my article, which states that Jesus did not fear or try to avoid the cross, I had some other thoughts about it. (No, I have not changed my mind).

If it is true (which it is not) that Jesus, for whatever "reason," prayed and asked the Father to save Him from the cross, then when did He change His mind "back" to that of a willing sacrifice for sin?" I don't know of a passage where we are told that Jesus changed His mind BACK about dying on thecross. (Of course, neither do I know of a passage that tells us Jesus ever really wanted to avoid the cross.) But, if He did pray, asking the Father to spare Him the death on the cross, we have some more problems.

If Jesus changed His mind by not wanting to die on the cross (contrary to the eternal will and plan of God, and contrary to His own commitment throughout all eternity as God the Son, and contrary to His own testimony during His earthly ministry), then when did Jesus repent of His desire to abandon the will of God? I know it is a stupid question, since it would indicate that Jesus was not a fit sacrifice for sin. Still, if we are going to say that Jesus was not of one mind with the Father on this issue, then we must know when He came back to the original plan.

Also, if Jesus did not change His mind BACK, so that He BECAME willing (again) to go to the cross, then He only went to the cross because it was the Father's will, rather than His own will. If this is true, then Jesus was obedient in action, but He was not in one accord with the Father. This of course is as absurd as the other false scenarios. It might be argued that Jesus was always WILLING to do the will of the Father, but He did not WANT to do the will of the Father. And I suppose this will not bother some folks, but it is not the understanding that I have concerning Jesus.

Actually, these thoughts were not even in my article (though they probably will be now). These are just some thoughts I had when I reread my previous post about Christ not wanting to go to the cross. I hope you don't judge my position based on these impromptu thoughts. I hope you will read my article when I post it. I believe I have some very good arguments, that should at least be considered.

By the way, I do understand that deeply dedicated Bible believers, who are much smarter than I am, may not agree with my viewpoint. I have actually had a very well respected and scholarly preacher in my pulpit one time who stated that Jesus prayed to avoid the cross. I do not think he even knew my position, or that he was being controversial. I just sat there and enjoyed the rest of his message. I was not worried about my congregation, because I knew that they had been given both sides of the argument. My posting is not meant to divide, but to inform and hopefully enlighten.

11/10/17 REALLY?

11/10/17 REALLY?

So, do you really think Jesus sought to avoid the cross, and leave us all to eternal torment?

My quick and easy response is NO WAY. But I have been reworking an old article I wrote about twenty years ago (but had been preaching since the sixties or seventies), which gives Biblical reasons that Jesus did not try to avoid the cross, He did not fear death on the cross, in fact, He was asking the Heavenly Father to save Him from death in the Garden so that He could die on the cross.

It is taking me a little while to finish the rework, but I hope to have it posted by next week. The first section (of three or four sections) has nearly 7,500 words.

NEVER think that Jesus' humanity ever caused Him to try to avoid, abandon, escape the cross. It never crossed His mind to leave us without blood bought salvation.

Think about it. The devil wants us to think that Jesus' human frailty caused Him to want to turn from His eternal mission of salvation, even though it would leave the entire human race without hope.Then the devil wants us to think that it is understandable for us to falter, because we are just weak human beings.

Though the physical body of Jesus almost did not make it to the cross because of frailty, JESUS WAS ALWAYS DETERMINED TO MAKE IT TO THE CROSS, THE TOMB AND THE RESURRECTION.

WOOOOOO, Glory to His Name.

11/09/17 WHY WE ARE THE NET HOUSE

11/09/17 WHY WE ARE THE NET HOUSE

You will notice in my videos and my articles about fishing that I do not hide the fact that I recognize my lack of knowledge, skill, success. I post my failures and my successes. You will notice that I ask questions and observe other people who are more adept and better informed and more experienced than I am.

I work hard at improving my skill, my knowledge, my success. I do it primarily for the benefit of other people, such as family, friends, acquaintances, but especially my grandchildren. I like to catch fish, but I have caught a lot of fish during my life. I still enjoy the challenge and the reward of a good fight, a landed fish, a big fish, a lot of fish, a fish supper. But I want to pass that experience on to others.

uhhmmm, What about THE NET HOUSE?

I am getting there.

I am seventy years old. I grew up fishing with rods, reels and nets. I worked on charter sports fishing boats. I have fished offshore, inshore, in the sound on the beach. I have caught big fish and lots of fish. But different kinds of fishing requires different knowledge and skills and practices. Whatever success in one type of fishing does not always translate into other types of fishing. I ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE I KNOW I NEED IT AND I WANT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF FISHING.

WHAT ABOUT THE NET HOUSE?

OK, here it is.
The net house (or the boat house, or the fish house) is where fishermen go to get their gear, tackle, boats ready for fishing. It is where many a young person has sat an listened and watch old salts work and talk and demonstrate the art of fishing.

Christians are called to be Fishers of Men. I named our church, THE NET HOUSE because it is a place to come and learn about doing the work of God. Yes, it is a place of worship and praise but it is also a place of sharing, growth, fellowship. Our gathering together as Christians is a time of worship and praise and prayer, but it is also a time to listen and learn, a time to work, serve, fellowship, submit.

Believers should come with an eagerness, an excitement to learn from other seasoned believers about living the Christian life, plying the troubled waters, setting and keeping a course, reaching the lost, weathering the storms, maintaining and mending our relationships.

As a pastor, as a seasoned salt in the sea of life, I want people to come to me for leadership, training, guidance. I want people to look to the "old timers" for help and instruction.

This is what fishermen do. This is what happens at the fish house, the boat house, THE NET HOUSE.

11/05/17 YES HE DID

11/05/17 YES HE DID

The Holy Bible clearly says that Adam sinned. Romans 5:12-19 ⬇️

Romans 5:12-19
(12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
(13) (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
(14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
(15) But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
(16) And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
(17) For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
(18) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
(19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

It is the devil and false prophets who deny Adam's sinned.
It is the devil and false prophets who make the sin of Adam an act of loving redemption.

11/05/17 DISCIPLESHIP

11/05/17 DISCIPLESHIP

I am preaching this morning about Discipleship, which includes the following.
Divine Call,
Decisions,
Dedication,
Denying Self,
Discipline,
Death to Self,
Diligence,
Deliverance.

All start with the letter, "D" and all have the same Destination, but they are all Different from one another. These are all part of the whole Christian experience.

I encourage you to look for these qualities and actions as you read the Holy Bible. Look for them in the lives of Bible characters, look for them in the teachings of Jesus, look for them in the Psalms and Proverbs, look for them in the writings of the the New Testament letters. God addresses all of these areas in many places and in many ways.

2 Peter 1:2-12
(2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
(3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
(4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
(5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
(6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
(7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
(8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(9) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
(10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
(11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
(12) Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

11/05/17 FALSE TEACHERS

11/05/17 FALSE TEACHERS

A Bible teacher who does not believe and live by the Bible is a deceiver.

11/04/17 MORMONISM'S BAIT AND SWITCH TACTICS

11/04/17 MORMONISM'S BAIT AND SWITCH TACTICS
(MORMONS LIE THROUGH "CHRISTIAN" MOVIES)

Watching a Mormon movie caused me to write this post. I make this point at the end of this article.

Satan is a deceiver, a trickster. Paul, was concerned that Christians would be deceived and led astray by Satan, just as Eve was, in the Garden.

2 Corinthians 11:2-4
(2) For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
(3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
(4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

This is evident in Mormonism's claim to believe the Bible, but what they really mean is that they believe the Bible as it is explained by their other "sacred writings," since Mormonism teaches that the Bible has been corrupted and changed and distorted, but their so-called "revealed truth" is accurate and corrects the errors of today's Bible.

It is also evident in their claim that they believe there is only one God, when in reality they believe that many gods exist, and in fact they believe that God the Father was once a man, as we are men, and one day we may become gods, as he became a god.

It is evident in their claim that they believe the God of the Bible is the first and last God and there was no gods before Him and there are no gods after Him, but they say that god the father had a father and there were other gods before him and many gods since Him.

It is evident in their claim that they believe in the Trinity (the Biblical revelation that God is One God in Three Persons). They actually believe that the father, son and holy spirit are three separate gods. They use the word godhead, which is Biblical, but they claim there is not only one God and they deny that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are three Persons in the Godhead. Mormonism actually believes in polytheism (many gods), which is totally against the Bible, which clearly and consistently declares that there is only One God, in Three Persons.

It is evident in their claim that Adam's eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil was actually a loving, redemptive act of submission to God, rather than SIN which the Bible teaches. Mormonism claims that transgression (rebellion or revolting against God's rule) is not sin. The Bible says, "sin is the transgression of the law." God commanded Adam and Even not to eat, which was God's law at that time.

BUT ENOUGH WITH A FEW THEOLOGICAL POINTS. HOW ABOUT CURRENT DECEPTION AMONG MORMON LEADERS.

It is evident in the way elders and missionaries and other teachers hide their real beliefs when they are teaching and when they are answering questions about the Bible. They deliberately hide some of the blatantly anti-Biblical teachings of Mormonism.

Many times I have asked questions of Mormon missionaries, knowing the answer before I asked. Often I have told them at the very beginning of the question that I already knew the answer, so please don't lie to me. THEN I ASK THE QUESTION, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DID? THEY LIED TO ME ANY WAY. I would repeat the question and the warning, and they would lie again. Finally, after several rounds of questions and lies they realized that I knew the answer and I knew that they were lying.

There is more to this, but let me get to the final point, concerning Mormons Lie Through Christian Movies.
I will just mention a few points.

First, the message of the movie had some good points, but it was missing some key Biblical concepts, so I began to wonder if it was a Mormon production.

Secondly, the male and female leads were "church" people. They even referred to being saved or salvation. The female, who had supposedly drifted from God was ashamed when the Bible, church or prayer was mentioned. In a few scenes a Bible is show. It was a nice, red, standard sized Bible, with the words, HOLY BIBLE on the cover.

At the end of the movie, when she supposedly "turned back" to God, she is seen picking up her "Bible" as she prepared to go on a trip (supposedly the same Bible we saw earlier).

However, the book is not the same book as seen earlier. It was a very thick, black bound "bible." I figured it was a subtle way to switch to Mormon theology, so I looked online to see what a Mormon "bible" looks like. I figured it would be thicker than the Holy Bible, because their bible includes the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price and the book called, Doctrines And Covenants. I found Mormon "bibles" that looked just like the one in the movie, and yes, they included all three false documents as well as the Holy Bible of God. BAIT AND SWITCH

Now maybe you don't think that is a big deal and maybe it was just an accident. DON'T LEAVE ME NOW.

As I researched information of the film I found out it actually was a Mormon made movie. But you would not know it unless you looked it up. Then came these facts.

BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE
Thirdly, Mormons sometimes make movies, with Mormon friendly dialogue and message, and then they remake those same movies to be Christian friendly. They replace the Mormon dialogue and activities, with more Christian markers, in order to draw Christians away from the Bible and the truth of God, into the lies of Mormonism. BAIT AND SWITCH.

BUT WE ARE NOT DONE YET
Fourthly, not only do they redo the movie and rename the movie, and reword the movie, the names of the actors are different also. NO. I DID NOT SAY THAT THEY CHANGE ACTORS. In fact, they keep the same actors, but CHANGE THEIR NAMES. NO, not the character's names, but THE ACTORS NAMES. If you were looking at a review of this movie, not only does the trailer not tell you that the movie is a bait and switch movie, but they deliberately rename the movie and rename the actors, which erases the Mormon stamp on the movie. BAIT AND SWITCH.

BAIT AND SWITCHED dialogue, message, visual props, title and even the names of the actors are changed to deceive the public. This bait and switch is not accidental or incidental. It is intentional and deliberately deceptive.

Yes, anyone could do this and all religions have been poorly represented by media people from time to time. BUT NOT HERE.

BAIT AND SWITCH ARE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN USED TO ENSNARE THE UNSUSPECTING.

Even the so-called, "Eternal Covenant" of Polygamy was changed by the leadership, in order to get Utah added as a State to the USA.

So-called divine revelations have been changed because of governmental or political or social pressures.

The revelation of the Holy Bible has not changed and it is not deceitful. If you cannot trust the founders and leaders, then the movement is not trustworthy either.

11/04/17 THIS IS FOR ANYONE PLANNING TO BE IN CHURCH (or not).

11/04/17 THIS IS FOR ANYONE PLANNING TO BE IN CHURCH (or not).

Obviously I am just making a point with this question, since part of the question is unrealistic.

Would you want Jesus and other residents of heaven to welcome and accept you as warmly as you welcome and accept other people into your church's worship service?

The absurdity is that no one goes to heaven without being totally loved, accepted, welcomed and celebrated. But it is possible for someone to come to our church and not be warmly welcomed and accepted and loved by someone. Remember, whoever refuses to warmly and lovingly welcome someone into their church will not have to worry about how they are going to be welcomed into heaven.

If there is going to be any barrier between you and another person, let it be because the other person is presently rejecting you. EVEN THEN, DO THE CHRISTLIKE THING. Do not let it be because you refuse to offer love, kindness, friendship to them. This is not asking much of anyone. In fact this is only basic Christianity

If you do not have the Christian grace to love others, as Christ loves you and to let them know, by your words, your actions, your demeanor, that you love and cherish them, if you do not have grace enough to let them know you love them, at least be as gracious and as civil and as cordial as a hell bound sinner. Then, at any point during the service, publicly acknowledge your sin and seek salvation. Better yet. get saved before church so you can be the Christian God wants you to be and do the thing God wants you to do.

Remember, young eyes are watching you. Maybe young eyes in your own family, as well as other children and young people. Let them see you at your Christlike best. You are setting the tone and the course for young lives. BE CAREFUL.

As Pastor, I am more than ready to help you get right with God.

11/04/17 MAKE NO MISTAKE

11/04/17 MAKE NO MISTAKE

When God is silent in the face of human sin, it marks His patience and pending plan, not His approval.

This is true with His people also. Silence and "inaction" may be "the quiet before the storm." God's Church is loving and kind and patient and tolerant, which is not to be confused with weak or confused or cowardly. God gives opportunity for repentance. The church must deal with and discipline those who cause division, but reconciliation is the primary objective, not punishment; mercy, not judgment.

11/03/17 UNFINISHED

11/03/17 UNFINISHED

There are projects I have started, but if I were to go be with the Lord tonight, those projects would go UNFINISHED. They are good things, but they are not the most important things. They are worthy endeavors, but they are my responsibilities and no one else can do them for me. I imagine that everyone has something unfinished in his/her life.

However, there are some tasks, responsibilities, projects, assignments, missions that must not go UNFINISHED. Remember, as Spirit born, cleansed, empowered, led and anointed followers of Christ, He has given us directives and commands that only we can do.

God gives us people, difficult people, rebellious people, offensive people, unlovely people to love. We are God's messengers of love to them. We are in the place of Christ, sent to reconcile them to God.

If we allow the negatives of their lives to keep us from reaching out to them then our service to Christ is UNFINISHED.

If we are so busy with the responsibilities and affairs of this passing life that they "crowd out" God's work of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, then our service to Christ is UNFINISHED.

If we fill our lives with the people, events, pursuits, hobbies, that please us, abandoning those who are lost in the sea of sin, then our service to Christ is UNFINISHED.

It is popular today to believe that we do not have responsibilities to God, especially difficult, distasteful, costly, self denying responsibilities. It is popular to "trust" in the mercy and grace of God, regardless of our own failures and disobedience. However, God holds each of us responsible for our own lives. We will reap what we sow. We will give account for our time, energy, talents, relationships, attitudes, words, words and actions. Obedience to God is not a form of self salvation or works of the flesh. Obedience to God is the evidence of our salvation.

Even the people who make sacrifices, the people who carfully guard their religious beliefs, the people who live their lives, supposedly fulfilling the will of God, will be told by God, "Depart from Me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you." Even if they spent their lives in religious pursuits. Until our lives are totally surrendered and consumed and filled with the Holy Spirit, burning out all remains of sin, then our lives are UNFINISHED.

Don't make the mistake of trusting in a past spiritual experience, or Biblical knowledge, or a life dedicated to Christian ideals, or family and church relationships to save you. It takes total commitment, abandonment to Christ. It takes total infusion of the Holy Spirit and unswerving submission to finish the course God gives us. We should be able to say, as Paul said in reference to his own relationship with God,

2 Timothy 4:7-8
(7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
(8) 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.

BUT NOTICE THE VERSES LEADING TO THIS DECLARATION. Paul tells us that God expects us to fulfill our calling.

2 Timothy 4:1-5
(1) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
(2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
(3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
(4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
(5) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Judgment is coming to those who call themselves Christians, but have chosen to disregard the rule of Christ in their lives.
We are instructed many times to share the message of salvation with other people. In this passage we are told to PREACH the word, no matter the difficulties involved and no matter what their response may be.

We are also told in this passage to be vigilent in every situation and to remain faithful when the enemy attacks and opposes us.
We are told to live a life of reconciling love and to not neglect any opportunity to show and proclaim the love of Christ.

Sadly, there will be people who fully expect to go to heaven, only to find out that they were not ready for heaven because they had not finished their course, they had not fought the good fight, they had not kept the faith. They had not surrendered fully to God, therefore they were not ready for heaven, because their relationship with God was not current, but rather, it was UNFINISHED.

Christ has made full atonement for the believer. In reference to His sacrificial work on the cross, Jesus said, IT IS FINISHED. However, God requires us to believe, to repent, to confess, to obey, to follow. When we fail to follow Him, we lose because our response to God was neglected and left UNFINISHED.

11/02/17 MORE THAN WORDS

11/02/17 MORE THAN WORDS

"Everyday Is A Victory" should be our daily testimony, not just lyrics in a song.