07/31/22 DON'T WAIT TOO LATE

07/31/22 DON'T WAIT TOO LATE

Time is coming (sooner than later) when the hard-hearted will not hear the call of God and will fall into everlasting torment.

07/31/22 BUT RESCUING SINNERS TAKES TIME

07/31/22 BUT RESCUING SINNERS TAKES TIME

I much rather preach God's unsearchable riches (His plan for believers) than God's judgment and displeasure of sin.

07/31/22 FULL TIME JOB

07/31/22 FULL TIME JOB

The reason the preacher bears down on sin, self-assurance, shamelessness, sass and self-absorption is because they damn the soul.

07/31/22 SELF LOVE IS IDOLATRY

07/31/22 SELF LOVE IS IDOLATRY

Notice how people who love mirrors and selfies don't like how they are reflected in the Bible or seen by the church.

07/31/22 GOD DRAWS AND DRIVES

07/31/22 GOD DRAWS AND DRIVES

God calls and whispers, invites and reasons, convicts and blesses, condemns and nudges. You better trust and obey.

07/31/22 KNOW YOUR PLACE

07/31/22 KNOW YOUR PLACE 

Christians are called to be witnesses, NOT lawyers, judges, juries, jailers or executioners.

Get right or get left.

07/31/22 DON'T WORRY, IT WON'T LAST LONG

07/31/22 DON'T WORRY, IT WON'T LAST LONG

Folks who get tired of the Life Guard screaming at them to turn around, are likely to drift to death.
Don't drift to death.

07/31/22 SIN MAKES YOU A FOOL

07/31/22 SIN MAKES YOU A FOOL

If folks would die to self, the world, the devil, by God's grace, they could be filled with God's, true love, humility, kindness.

07/31/22 IT IS CALLED THE BLAME GAME

07/31/22 IT IS CALLED THE BLAME GAME

Those who live in the light of their own darkness, can and will, fault God, His salvation, His word, His ministry, His church.

07/31/22 DON'T GET ON THE WRONG HIGH

07/31/22 DON'T GET ON THE WRONG HIGH

If your "spiritual high" is actually an emotional, worldly or self oriented high, then you are on the wrong mountain.

The way up is down.

07/31/22 BOTH IN THE SAME SINKING BOAT

07/31/22 BOTH IN THE SAME SINKING BOAT

How sad for those who rejoice in there own fleshly "goodness" and those who deny God's desire, will, grace to impart His goodness.

07/31/22 A BALANCED AND CONGRUENT LIFE

07/31/22 A BALANCED AND CONGRUENT LIFE

Beware: know your teacher and the congruency of his life and belief system.

Inconsistency is dangerous.

07/30/22 CHOOSE YOUR BEQUEST CARFULLY

07/30/22 CHOOSE YOUR BEQUEST CARFULLY

The innocent suffer because of the sins of others, and sometimes the sins that afflict them are the sins of the parents.

07/30/22 GOD IS FREE FROM ALL SIN

07/30/22 GOD IS FREE FROM ALL SIN

Don't forget.
God's sovereign power arises from and serves His eternal love and justice.

07/30/22 BASIC TRUTH

07/30/22 BASIC TRUTH

I am a Bible preacher, therefore my message addresses sin, society, selfishness, salvation, submission to God.

07/30/22 LORDSHIP MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED

07/30/22 LORDSHIP MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED

The issue is the Lordship of Christ.

The devil has even made the phrase into a false doctrine.

07/30/22 A QUICK CHECK

07/30/22 A QUICK CHECK

The believer bows in humility, the Pharisee boasts by saying he is not as sinners.
Luke 18:10-14

07/30/22 REACHING OTHERS IS NOT HEROIC, IT IS REDEMPTIVE

07/30/22 REACHING OTHERS IS NOT HEROIC, IT IS REDEMPTIVE

Redemptive living is rescuing the lost, in the spirit of humility, because God is rescuing you from your brokenness.

07/30/22 TRUE FORGIVENESS IS DIVINE

07/30/22 TRUE FORGIVENESS IS DIVINE

Forgiving others is not about us showing favor from our own goodness, but sharing God's favor to us, with others.

07/30/22 GOD'S WAY

07/30/22 GOD'S WAY

I misspelled FORGIVING as "FROGIVING."

There is a big difference in restoration and just jumping over something.

07/30/22 DON'T BLASPHEME GOD

07/30/22 DON'T BLASPHEME GOD

Don't believe your "internal witness" if it says you're saved while you are sinning.

Salvation saves us from sin, not in our sin.

07/30/22 NO RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT FELLOWSHIP

07/30/22 NO RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT FELLOWSHIP

Don't let anyone fool you, if you are not in fellowship with God, you are not in a right relationship with God.

07/29/22 FIVE PARTS WORKING IN UNISON

07/29/22 FIVE PARTS WORKING IN UNISON

A healthy Spiritual life includes Spirit enabled self control and balance of our Reason, Desire, Emotion, Conscience, Will.

07/29/22 CREATED TO BE BALANCED

07/29/22 CREATED TO BE BALANCED

As psycho-physical totalities (inner and outer man) and as social beings, balance comes from integrated growth and self control.

07/29/22 BE A PART, NOT APART

07/29/22 BE A PART, NOT APART

As individuals, marrieds, local church, we are created to be whole, though we are parts.

As parts, we should be a part, not apart.

07/29/22 DIVINE TRANSFORMATION

07/29/22 DIVINE TRANSFORMATION

True relationships are built on truth and communicate truth in love.

Truth sets us free and love fulfills the law.

07/29/22 DECEIVED

07/29/22 DECEIVED

A false witness believes only himself and rejects loving, godly, Biblical counsel.

In fact, sees correction as vicious attacks.

07/29/22 WE DETERMINE OUR RELATIONSHIP

07/29/22 WE DETERMINE OUR RELATIONSHIP

A right relationship with God is manifested in our being and our doing (thoughts, words, deeds) and not negated by blasphemers.

07/29/22 WORDS MATTER

07/29/22 WORDS MATTER

Words are important, in as far as they are truth and truly spoken.

Words can bless or curse, heal or hinder.

07/29/22 A QUIET TRUTH

07/29/22 A QUIET TRUTH

Many a grandparent would rather be visited while they are still on top of the ground, instead of under it.

07/28/22 THERE IS ONLY ONE RIGHT CHOICE

07/28/22 THERE IS ONLY ONE RIGHT CHOICE

Healthy Christians seek and follow Biblical insight, counsel and leadership.

Otherwise, danger lurks and tragedy is likely.

07/28/22 ILLICIT OR SELFLESS LOVE?

07/28/22 ILLICIT OR SELFLESS LOVE?

Everyone is filled with love.

Either Illicit Love, such as:
self,
sin,
the world,
pleasure,
money.

or,

Selfless Love, such as:
God,
(Father,
Son,
Holy Spirit).
People:
the unsaved,
family,
friends,
believers,
strangers,
enemies,

the truth.

07/28/22 THE BLIND WANT TO LEAD THE BLIND

07/28/22 THE BLIND WANT TO LEAD THE BLIND

As long as folks are focused on condemning others, they will never see the log in their own eye.

07/28/22 GOD SAYS, "HUMBLE YOURSELVES"

07/28/22 GOD SAYS, "HUMBLE YOURSELVES"

Regardless how much we love the arrogant, they cannot be reached until they humble themselves.

07/28/22 SELF IS THE PROBLEM

07/28/22 SELF IS THE PROBLEM

The self serving are blind to their own self absorption, self aggrandizement, self authority.

07/28/22 HIS WITNESS IS RELIABLE

07/28/22 HIS WITNESS IS RELIABLE

God gives His Spirit, His word, His pastors, His church as His witness because our own heart can deceive us.

07/28/22 SEEN IN OUR WALK

07/28/22 SEEN IN OUR WALK

Those in fellowship (relationship) with Christ do not walk in darkness.
The evidence is objective, not subjective.

07/27/22 THIS REALLY IS WORTH YOUR TIME TO READ.

07/27/22 THIS REALLY IS WORTH YOUR TIME TO READ.

God hates all sin, therefore when God specifically states something He hates, it should demand our attention.

We know that God hates murder, sexual sins, sins against children, dishonoring parents but here is a passage that designates seven other particulars that God hates.

Often the people who are guilty of some of these sins don't even realize how evil the sins are or they do not realize how involved they are with these sins.

As you consider these sins, keep in mind that the sinner, the perpetrator has a sense of power, importance, superiority over the victim and satisfaction, pleasure in hurting others. This makes the sinner into a monster. Yet very few see any darkness in themselves. These monsters do not care who they hurt or how young their victims are. They won't admit that they are corrupting, polluting, destroying others. They see themselves as a blessing, as an enabler, as a benefactor to others.

I am not going to add comment to the passage. Since they are sinning against the Holy Spirit, my comments will not help them see the truth. Still, I encourage folks to read it carefully and ask God if these characteristics apply to you. 

Proverbs 6:16-19
16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

07/26/22 IT'S A "GOOD WORK"

07/26/22 IT'S A "GOOD WORK"

My charge from God is to warn, feed, lead, protect, train, edify, reprove, correct, instruct in righteousness, manage and bring the sheep in my local congregation to Christian perfection, which is the perfection or standard that God sets for His children.

This requires me to clear out the obstacles to growth, build them on a firm foundation of Biblical truth and practice, fight for them against the wiles of the wicked one, mend them when they are broken or sickly.

Ground must be broken up, rocks and trees removed, weeds destroyed and the land properly prepared in order for it to be a productive piece of land for the farmer.

Doctors prescribe diet, exercise and other aids to health for their patients. When a person has an ailment that is more complex, needing more serious care, the doctor may need to operate, even amputate, in order to save or improve the patients quality of life or even to save the life of his patient.

Likewise, in the mechanical model, we see that the brokenness of an inner man requires a tearing down (as tearing down an engine), through preaching, teaching, counseling. My job is to repair, restore, replace the damaged parts of the inner man, as in the model of a mechanic.

Sometimes a person allows total failure in their life or they have abused their inner man to such a degree that they must submit to drastic spiritual intervention.

It is possible that the person needing help will be resistant. This is what leads to the more extensive, intrusive, invasive work of the pastor.

It is better for the believer to maintain his relationship with God and to strengthen his relationship with God, rather than neglect and reject sound leadership and counsel. 

As the mechanic in the old commercial for automotive oil said, "Pay me now, or pay me later."

07/26/22 A RUDE AWAKENING

07/26/22 A RUDE AWAKENING

Have you ever started a project, but decided that you did not need those pesky instructions, then you finally realized you did need them?

07/26/22 START EARLY AND STAY WITH IT

07/26/22 START EARLY AND STAY WITH IT

When I was pastor on Hatteras I would make the trip from Avon to my home in Morehead City. It was 70 miles of driving if I took the ferry route, or 250 miles of driving if I took the mainland route. The entire trip took the same amount of time on both routes, but on the ferry route I only drove about an hour, whereas I would drive about 5 hours on the mainland route. If I missed the ferry schedule I had to cancel the trip or drive the entire 250 miles. The trip was important to me, so I bit the bullet and drove the longer route.

When we miss God's timing, He often allows us to still make the trip, but it will cost us more than hours and miles. Don't miss His calling, His leading, His provision, His timing. Even though there is only one way to heaven, in God's mercy He often allows folks to come to Him at various stages of life (remember the thief on the cross).

The sooner you start your journey, the more blessings and the better equipped you will be. Also you will be available for greater service. Get started early, stay committed to the journey.

The only regret you will ever have is your delay or your taking wrong turns along the way.

07/26/22 DON'T LET YOUR RAGING HURT BECOME RAGE

07/26/22 DON'T LET YOUR RAGING HURT BECOME RAGE

"HURT" can be so strong that it overwhelms.

Overcome your HURT with LOVE and FAITH.

Don't let raging hurt become rage.

Don't let HURT rule and sour you.

07/26/22 GRACE DOES MUCH MORE ABOUND

07/26/22 GRACE DOES MUCH MORE ABOUND

Our suffering and loss can seem to dominate our mind. It is a spiritual battle. We gain the victory with God's word. Consider the abounding abundance of God's goodness in these verses. Each verse has a treasure, but you can look for the ones you need today. Read, immerse, absorb, go in victory.

Romans 5:20
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

2 Corinthians 1:5
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

2 Corinthians 8:2
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

2 Corinthians 9:8
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;

Ephesians 1:8
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

1 Thessalonians 3:12
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

1 Thessalonians 4:1
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 

2 Thessalonians 1:3
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

07/25/22 SOUNDING ALIKE IS NOT BEING ALIKE

07/25/22 SOUNDING THE SAME IS NOT BEING THE SAME

God rules over all, but to say, "God is in charge," means He allows and judges evil, not that He authors or agrees with it.

07/25/22 TRUE SOVEREIGNTY IS RIGHTLY GUIDED

07/25/22 TRUE SOVEREIGNTY IS RIGHTLY GUIDED

A sovereignty, which is not guided by Divine love, justice, righteousness and goodness, is not Divine or Biblical.

07/25/22 GODLY FEAR

07/25/22 GODLY FEAR

Biblical fear of God is based in Divine justice, righteousness and power, not in supposed self serving sovereignty.

07/25/22 TRUST IS RELATIONAL, NOT INTIMIDATION

07/25/22 TRUST HAS TO DO WITH INTER-RELATION, NOT INTIMIDATION

Trust, in God, is loving submission to His goodness, it is not programmed fear of an unjust sovereignty.

07/25/22 SOVEREIGNTY SERVES CHARACTER

07/25/22 SOVEREIGNTY SERVES CHARACTER

Though He is sovereign, we trust Him freely because He is just and loving, otherwise we can't really trust Him.

07/24/22 BE GOD'S CHAMPION

07/24/22 BE GOD'S CHAMPION

Believe, live, grow and share God's truth.

Don't allow Satan to make you a champion for sinning religion.

07/24/22 EVEN AND CONTINUOUS

07/24/22 EVEN AND CONTINUOUS

Being Born of the Spirit is an event and a continuing condition.

Likewise, being Dead to Sin is an event and a continuing condition.

07/24/22 DON'T BE THE BREAKING POINT

07/24/22 DON'T BE THE BREAKING POINT

A chain breaks at the weakest link.

Trust and obey God, do not be the link that breaks the witness and ministry of your church.

07/24/22 A WICKED EUPHEMISM

07/24/22 A WICKED EUPHEMISM

Don't use the concept of "Christian concern" as a vehicle for gossip.

Christians don't need that kind of "Christian concern."

07/24/22 DON'T MISS GOD'S CONCERT

07/24/22 DON'T MISS GOD'S CONCERT

There is awesome music awaiting those who master basic musical principles.

Sadly, very few get there.

Keep in mind, this post is not about music; I am only using music as an analogy to life. In particular, Christian life.

Think about it.

07/24/22 IF YOU HEAR, YOU'RE OBLIGATED

07/24/22 IF YOU HEAR, YOU'RE OBLIGATED

Everyone who hears God's word is obligated to heed it, regardless of their view of the messenger.

07/24/22 YOUR CHOICE

07/24/22 YOUR CHOICE

Believe, repent and be saved or resist, reject and go to hell.

Not being flip, I am simply stating terrifying truth.

07/24/22 CONSTANT, CONTINUOUS, CONSISTENT TRANSFORMATION

07/24/22 CONSTANT, CONTINUOUS, CONSISTENT TRANSFORMATION

If your Bible time is not transforming your thinking, behavior, relationships, inner man into the likeness of Christ, you need Jesus.
If your Bible time is not conforming you to the image of Jesus, you need to humble yourself, repent, surrender, follow.

Every person needs to be saved (born again, regenerated by the Holy Spirit).
Every believer needs to be entirely sanctified (Spirit purified) by the infilling of the Holy Spirit and the crucifixion of the Old Man, the Evil Heart of Unbelief, the Double Mind, the Carnal Mind, the Law of Sin and Death.
Every entirely sanctified, Spirit filled, believer needs to grow in grace and knowledge, walk in light, continue in the Lord and the faith and the grace of God, abide in Christ, follow God's leading, be filled with God's word, have the mind of Christ, abound in the Fruit of the Spirit, be submissive to Biblical truth and Biblical leaders and Biblical believers.

No believer should ever go back on light, should ever be subversive, should ever be disobedient to Biblical authority.

07/22/22 DENYING TRUTH ANYWAY

07/22/22 DENYING TRUTH ANYWAY

Calvinists care not that unilateral, double election is uninviting; they deny sinners can repent anyway.

07/22/22 TEAM MEMBERS ARE MORE THAN...

07/22/22 TEAM MEMBERS ARE MORE THAN...

Team Members are more than Spectators, Boosters, Fans.

Team Members commit (time, energy), submit to (leaders, vision).

07/22/22 EVER LEARNING, BUT NEVER...

07/22/22 EVER LEARNING, BUT NEVER...

Amazing how some folks think God cannot be all powerful without being cruel, dishonest, unjust, unloving.

07/22/22 HE IS OUR HOPE

07/22/22 HE IS OUR HOPE

Never forget, even in the midst of your trouble and trial, Jesus never fails.

07/22/22 BE DONE WITH CHILDISH THINGS

07/22/22 BE DONE WITH CHILDISH THINGS

It's a joy when little children think the world is their amusement park.

It's tragic when adults live in Never Never Land.

07/22/22 PREPARE WHILE YOU CAN

07/22/22 PREPARE WHILE YOU CAN

When eternal night falls and the unrelenting storms of torment begin, it will be everlasting too late to prepare to meet God.

07/22/22 DON'T WAIT TILL TOO LATE

07/22/22 DON'T WAIT TILL TOO LATE

One moment in hell is too late for a change of mind, not that it would be possible.

07/22/22 TIME TO GET SERIOUS

07/22/22 TIME TO GET SERIOUS

Don't confuse the Nature, State and Mission of the Church with the idea of a "Sunday School Picnic."

07/21/22 DON'T SWALLOW THE FALSE NARRATIVE

07/21/22 DON'T SWALLOW THE FALSE NARRATIVE

Being human does not automatically make you guilty before God, no matter how the devil twists the word of God. In order to be guilty you must commit sin. Sin is the transgression of the law; Sin is doing unrighteousness; Sin is refusing to do the good that we know we should do; Sin is living in the power of the flesh rather than living in the power of faith.

Though we have all sinned, God does not leave the believer helplessly wallowing in sin. We are not the hapless victim of temptation. We are the target of demonic attacks, but we are enlivened and empowered and enabled by God, His Son, His Spirit, His word to resist all temptation, to overcome all spiritual attacks, to always triumph, to cease from evil and do good, to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil, to have clean hands and a pure heart.

God has assured us that we can turn from and be done with sin, and He has also assured us that if we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Christ Jesus the righteous. He has promised that no temptation can overcome us and He has promised that He will make a way to escape falling into temptation.

07/21/22 REMEMBER JESUS

07/21/22 REMEMBER JESUS

Being tempted, attacked, weak, accused, disappointed, sorrowful, strained, tired, or having your emotions in upheaval or your reason beclouded does not mean you failed or sinned; remember Jesus.

Jesus was also a man of sorrows and He was despised, rejected, acquainted with grief, misunderstood, misrepresented, maligned, tempted, afflicted with human infirmities, and as a man, He trusted in the Father to deliver Him when He did not know what was about to happen in the Garden.

Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, but He never, never ever sinned.

07/21/22 DON'T NEED NO SPECK TATORS

07/21/22 DON'T NEED NO SPECK TATORS

A local church body should be a "Team," but often it is a few totally committed believers and a majority of spectators.

07/21/22 GOD CREATES NO CHAOS

07/21/22 GOD CREATES NO CHAOS

If it is impossible to either accept or reject God's offer of salvation, then the offer is a mockery.

07/21/22 TURNED TOTALLY BACKWARD

07/21/22 TURNED TOTALLY BACKWARD

Notice, verses that proclaim God's power to deliver from sin and call us to holiness are twisted by sinning religion.

07/21/22 SIN UPON SIN

07/21/22 SIN UPON SIN

I am sorry for those who buy into sinning religion.

But the greater tragedy is they lead others into their darkness.

07/21/22 MANKIND'S FREE WILL IS LIMITED BY GOD

07/21/22 MANKIND'S FREE WILL IS LIMITED BY GOD

Biblical Free Will isn't humans creating their destiny by unilateral choice, but by choosing or refusing what God offers.

07/21/22 FAMILY, TEAMING

07/21/22 FAMILY, TEAMING

A team is not simply a group of people gathered together or gathered together for a specific purpose. A team is at least people with the same purpose, the same directives, committed to unified pursuit and sacrificial service. A team is much more, but if we take this simple statement as a starting point we should ask ourselves if we are part of a family team, a local church team. Do we live for the accomplishment of our goal, regardless the cost and do we sacrifice our personal desires, feelings, plans for the good of the team?
God planned for the family (His family in particular) to be a team.

Those who are not part of God's family (team) are on the opposing team (singular, not plural).
God planned for the universal Church to be a team.

God planned for the local church to be a team.
If you are not committed to team ethics, relationships, goals, teammates, guidelines, then you are not part of the team.

No matter how talented an individual may be, it takes a team to win a team sport. Glory hogs seldom have as much to offer as they think they have, and even when there is a super star on the team, even if a super star makes enormous contributions to the team, he is still required to be part of a team. Like it or not, God set it up that way.

Those who seek their own glory, those who rebuff and degrade team members are disqualified from God's service. Pride is the great dis-qualifier. Very talented, but proud players are actually the opponents of God.

This makes supposed champions into five star losers.

07/21/22 FROM THE GUTTERMOST TO THE UTTERMOST

07/21/22 FROM THE GUTTERMOST TO THE UTTERMOST

Though Adam was created sinless, he had Satan and temptation to resist. He had no sin until he disobeyed God.

Even pristine, primitive, pre-fall Eden was a testing ground. How much more dangerous for those who are born as fallen and carnal men in a corrupted and hostile world? Yet, believers are enabled by God to resist temptation and walk in God's light (truth).

Though believers are redeemed by faith in the death and resurrection of Christ, according to the Bible we are waiting for the "redemption of our body." In other words, our bodies are not yet resurrected, glorified, delivered from the limitations of this fallen world. Not only does our world and our body suffer from the curse until resurrection, our inner man, though delivered from sin by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, our inner man is weakened, limited, being afflicted with infirmities of body and mind.

Though we are tempted and tried and though we are unable to overcome sin by our own strength and though we are encumbered with human frailties and limitations, God saves us from all sin. Not all problems in this life, not all weaknesses in this life, not all errors in this life, but His Spirit delivers from all sin. We always need the constant cleansing of the blood of Christ and the abiding of the Holy Spirit for our salvation. The blood of Christ cleanses those who walk in the light as He is in the light, from all sin. We can fail (sin), but we can rescued from our failure (sins).

Even in our most victorious moments, it is not ourselves, but Christ in us that gives us victory. Even in our greatest failures, it is Christ Who will restore us, if we come to Him through faith.

07/20/22 GOD DOESN'T PLAY THAT GAME

07/20/22 GOD DOESN'T PLAY THAT GAME

God's call to salvation is not a fake call, an insincere call, a pretended call.

Such a call is contrary to God's nature.

07/20/22 HEALING DECAPITATION WITH A BAND AID

07/20/22 HEALING DECAPITATION WITH A BAND AID

If you don't like what God says, convert to sinning religion, then you can throw away what you don't like (but it's still true).

07/20/22 BEWARE PRESUMPTION

07/20/22 BEWARE PRESUMPTION

Beware the lie that Biblical conditions (faith, repentance, confession and obedience) are works of the flesh.

07/20/22 GOD REQUIRES OUR RESPONSE

07/20/22 GOD REQUIRES OUR RESPONSE

The only way a spiritually blind, deaf, dead person will ever be transformed is if he turns from sin when the Spirit calls him.

REMEMBER, many are called but few are chosen. Answer when He calls and make your calling and election sure.

07/20/22 TAKE THE TIME, IT IS ESSENTIAL

07/20/22 TAKE THE TIME, IT IS ESSENTIAL

If you aren't having private, soul searching, heart rending times with God, you're probably walking in the flesh, not the Spirit.

07/20/22 TRUTH BEGETS GODLINESS

07/20/22 TRUTH BEGETS GODLINESS

We all have a belief system.

If your system does not produce godliness, it is not Biblical and your light is darkness.

07/20/22 THE FRUIT IT PRODUCES

07/20/22 THE FRUIT IT PRODUCES

If your "God time" does not produce God Likeness, then your God-time is godless time.

07/19/22 GET SERIOUS WITH GOD

07/19/22 GET SERIOUS WITH GOD

There is a lot of religious activity, but very little interaction with God, even in the Christian community.

Get alone with God.

07/19/22 WELCOME THE VISITATION OF GOD

07/19/22 WELCOME THE VISITATION OF GOD

If the message seems like a personal attack, don't get angry with the messenger.

Let God turn heaven's search light on your heart.

07/19/22 FAKING IT IS NOT MAKING IT

07/19/22 FAKING IT IS NOT MAKING IT

Pretenders, with a powerless form of religion, spew darkness, chaos, division, pride, anger, while faking God's grace and love.

07/19/22 CALL ON GOD, NOW

07/19/22 CALL ON GOD, NOW

Not living in victory (by faith) over sin in this present evil world is choosing to not be saved.

Salvation is salvation from sin.

07/19/22 AS IT SHOULD BE

07/19/22 AS IT SHOULD BE

Sometimes the younger brother needs to support his older brother.

We know that a loving older brother supports his younger brother.

07/18/22 HATE IS A CAPITAL CRIME

07/18/22 HATE IS A CAPITAL CRIME

I can't imagine God's pain, caused by children who hate Him and His other children.

It is bad enough in human families.

07/18/22 NO PERMIT FOR DISOBEDIENCE

07/18/22 NO PERMIT FOR DISOBEDIENCE

Have you ever noticed that "Christians" who believe in sinning religion think they have a Divine license to change God's word?

07/18/22 IT IS BOLDLY STATED

07/18/22 IT IS BOLDLY STATED

The fact that God SO LOVED, THAT HE GAVE, demonstrates that His sovereignty is guided by His love for all mankind.

07/17/22 DEVILISH PLAN

07/17/22 DEVILISH PLAN

Satan wants us to reject unity, leadership teaching, so that he can replace truth with evil.

Hebrews 12:14-15.

07/17/22 BEWARE OF DEMONIC TRAPS

07/17/22 BEWARE OF DEMONIC TRAPS

Seriously.
Avoid demon activity (deception, oppression, possession).
Be Biblical, teachable, humble, kind.

07/16/22 IT IS PART OF PERSONAL DISCIPLINE

07/16/22 IT IS PART OF PERSONAL DISCIPLINE

THREE OF THE BASIC STEPS OF SUCCESS:
VISION, GOALS, OBJECTIVES.
True for Christian personal and corporate success.

07/16/22 DO YOU SEE YOUR NEED?

07/16/22 DO YOU SEE YOUR NEED?

Without a preacher, how can they hear.

Without a vision the people perish.

Without faith it is impossible to please GOD.

07/16/22 WHERE TRUTH AND FAITH COMBINE

07/16/22 WHERE TRUTH AND FAITH COMBINE

I heard someone ask decades ago:
What would you do for Jesus if you knew you couldn't fail?

It is a mixture of truth and faith.

07/16/22 THEY ALL GO TOGETHER

07/16/22 THEY ALL GO TOGETHER

You can't live The Life without The Love,

and

You can't have The Love without The Truth.

Don't fall for The Lie.

07/16/22 DON'T BE LED ASTRAY

07/16/22 DON'T BE LED ASTRAY

You can't ring the bells loudly enough to discard the pomegranates, and no pomegranate takes the place of a bell.

07/16/22 FEW PAY THE PRICE

07/16/22 FEW PAY THE PRICE

Discipline, self denial, focusing, associations, study, submission to authority all attend success.

Especially among believers.

07/16/22 MAN'S CONDITION FROM BIBLICAL VIEWPOINT

07/16/22 MAN'S CONDITION FROM BIBLICAL VIEWPOINT
(my quick, simplified overview, as found in Scripture)

I. Mankind Created "Perfect"
(without sin).

II. Mankind Created Without Sin,
"marred, corrupted, bent to sin, carnal."

III. Adam Corrupted Himself and his Descendants
(when he sinned in the garden).

IV. Adam's Fall;
A. Made him guilty for his own sin,
and
B. Made him corrupted, debilitated, marred, depraved, but not destroyed
1. In his human nature,
a. Body (other consciousness);
(1) seeing; (2) hearing, (3) smelling, (4) tasting (5) feeling,
b. In his soul (self consciousness);
(1) reason, (2) emotion, (3) desire, (4) conscience, (5) will,
c. In his spirit (God consciousness).

C. Corrupted Adam's progeny with fallen Human Nature and Sinful (Adamic) Nature

D. Simplified Statement
1. Adam was still conscious of "other" physical realities. Adam's consciousness was debilitated, depraved, distorted, dead (out of proper awareness), but it was not, destroyed, annihilated.
2. Adam was still conscious of his non-material self. Adam's consciousness was debilitated, depraved, distorted, dead (out of proper awareness), but it was not destroyed, annihilated.
3. Adam was still conscious of God. Adam's consciousness was debilitated, depraved, distorted, dead (out of proper awareness), but it was not destroyed, annihilated.
4. Adam passed his corrupted Human Nature and his Sinful Nature to all of his progeny. All of Adam's descendants are conceived with a fallen Human Nature and a Sinful (Adamic) Nature.

V. God's Grace Through Jesus' Sacrifice Covers Pre-born and New Born Children.
Though Adam's race is born with sin (the sin nature) they are not guilty of Adam's sin. God does not hold children GUILTY for their parents sins. However, the inherited corruption still needs the redemptive, cleansing, atoning work of Christ to make the pre-born and the new born acceptable to God.

God provided the needed covering through the death and resurrection of Christ. This is why we can say that Christ "is the Savior of all men."

However, as the birthed child ages, he become accountable for his own sinful actions and will need to trust Christ for his salvation. This is why the verse goes on to say, "...and especially of those who believe."

VI. The Death and Resurrection of Christ Covers Personal Guilt and Sin, and it also Cleanses from the Sinful Adamic Nature.

A. All have sinned and all need salvation from sins committed.
The Holy Spirit convicts the sinner (unsaved person) of personal sin, convinces him of judgment, convinces him of God's salvation through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ, calls them to trust Christ alone for salvation, calls them to confess their need for salvation and their trust in Christ, calls them to repent, calls them to follow Jesus.

Sinners may then be converted, through faith, by justification and regeneration and they are adopted into the family of God, which changes them from sinners (people who sin) to become believers, saints (people who are set apart from sin and set apart to God).

B. Believers can continue to follow Christ by faith.
If a believer sins, he must renew his relationship with God through faith, confession and repentance or he will continue in sin, which separates him from God.

Salvation begins with faith, continues with faith and is brought to completion by faith.
That which is not of faith is sin, the wages of sin is death, the soul that sins shall die, and we must turn from all sin to be forgiven and to be cleansed.

If the believer repents and returns to a right relationship with Christ, God will lead the believer to understand that the inherited Adamic Nature is a threat to their peace, joy, love and their walk with God.

The believer is called by God to make full surrender, trusting Christ to cleanse them from the corrupt Sinful Nature, in the same way he believed Christ to save him from his sins.

Though the believer is able to fall back into sin, he is cleansed from all sin and will remain cleansed as long as he walks in the light of God's truth.

07/16/22 RE-POST: MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

07/16/22 RE-POST: MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

I WROTE THIS IN 2012. I am "sending" it again, with tears in my eyes and hope in my heart. I love you.

My bottle is so small,
The ocean is so vast,
We really do not know,
Which message is the last.

10/06/12 MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE...

A message in a bottle is a note, placed in a sealed bottle and thrown overboard, in hope that someone will find the message. This is an internet message in a bottle.

Message...
I love you.
I miss you.
I want the best for you.
I want to hear from you.
Love,
Signed... (you know who I am).

Explanation
I was actually saying that the MESSAGE is from me, but I wear various hats. I am a husband, a father, a grandfather, (now a great-grandfather) an in-law, uncle, cousin, nephew, pastor, friend. So, the message was for someone who would call me by one of those titles.

The message is open, but the relationship is private. This virtual MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE was directed to someone I love, someone I miss, someone I want to hear from. They may or may not realize I am sending it to them, but that is the way it goes with messages in bottles. Sometimes they are discovered and sometimes they just drift in the currents of life or wash up on a deserted island.

My MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE is impersonal, in that it does not say anything specific, or identify a certain person. It is really very general.... except for the person who finds it washed up on their beach. Hopefully they will hear the depth of concern, and respond.

Maybe a "MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE" is not a bad way to send out our love to people. You may say, "Why not just tell them?" Well, we do tell them, but for various reasons, they don't always get the message. Just like a message in a bottle, it is like a desperate, maybe final, attempt to reach someone.

07/15/22 DON'T IGNORE THE CORRUPTION

07/15/22 DON'T IGNORE THE CORRUPTION

Corruption in politics is when Trump and conservatives are accused of insurrection but attacks on cities and SCOTUS is called freedom.

07/15/22 ATTENTION MEN

07/15/22 ATTENTION MEN

Satan targets males to keep them backwards and quiet about Scripture because males are suppose to lead.

07/14/22 DESIGNED TO ROB

07/14/22 DESIGNED TO ROB

Sinning doctrine robs believers of joy, power, love, vision, faith, obedience, unity, hope, holiness of life.

07/14/22 PRE-PROGRAMMED TO DOUBT

07/14/22 PRE-PROGRAMMED TO DOUBT

Those who who buy into Calvin, seldom hunger and thirst for righteousness because they have been taught it's unBiblical.

07/14/22 SEPARATION BREED DOUBT

07/14/22 SEPARATION BREED DOUBT

Most unsaved folks deny there is Divine salvation.

Most saved people don't know believers can be purified with Baptism of Spirit.

07/14/22 A PRINCIPLE WITHIN

07/14/22 A PRINCIPLE WITHIN

Actually, many of those who argue that it is impossible to follow Jesus fully are hardly following Him at all, with no remorse.

Here are some great truths that address this issue. 

I Want a Principle Within 

Charles Wesley pub. 1749

I want a principle within
Of *jealous, godly fear, [*watchful]
A sensibility of sin,
A pain to feel it near.
I want the first approach to feel
Of pride or *fond desire, [*wrong]
To catch the wand’ring of my will,
And quench the kindling fire.

From Thee that I no more may part,
No more Thy goodness grieve,
The filial awe, the fleshly heart,
The tender conscience, give.
Quick as the apple of an eye,
O God, my conscience make;
Awake my soul when sin is nigh,
And keep it still awake.

Almighty God of truth and love,
To me Thy pow’r impart;
The mountain from my soul remove,
The hardness from my heart.
Oh, may the least omission pain
My reawakened soul,
And drive me to that blood again,
Which makes the wounded whole.

07/14/22 IT IS IDOLATRY

07/14/22 IT IS IDOLATRY

Don't focus on false doctrine or politics, which blinds, warps and kills you.

Look to JESUS and follow Him fully.

07/14/22 BIBLICAL ELECTION

07/14/22 BIBLICAL ELECTION

I'm saved by election.

God elects (chooses) everyone who believes, confesses, repents, abides, overcomes and finishes by faith.

07/14/22 GOD PLAYS NO GAMES

07/14/22 GOD PLAYS NO GAMES

Contrary to false doctrine, prayer actually is the believer's real time participation in the work of God.

It's not pretense.

07/14/22 GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES

07/14/22 GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES

When the vessel is "marred in the hands of the potter (God)" don't blame God.

The flaw is in the clay.

07/14/22 BENEFITS WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY

07/14/22 BENEFITS WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY

Sinning religion appeals to a society that wants benefits without godliness or accountability.

07/14/22 DON'T ATTACK GOD

07/14/22 DON'T ATTACK GOD

Shame on those who accost the love, justice, dignity, honesty, grace, true sovereignty of God.

07/14/22 DIFFERENT AUTHORITY

07/14/22 DIFFERENT AUTHORITY

Beware forced obedience, artificial love, feigned praise, insincere worship, involuntary servitude.

07/14/22 GOD'S WORD CONFOUNDS THE "WISE"

07/14/22 GOD'S WORD CONFOUNDS THE "WISE"

A well known, highly respected seminary prof, YouTube apologist says Mt. 5:48 refers to perfect law keeping.

WRONG.

07/12/22 WHAT IS YOUR STATUS?

07/12/22 WHAT IS YOUR STATUS? 

Abel was righteous, Enoch pleased God, Noah was perfect, Job was perfect.

What is your relationship with God?

07/12/22 WHO YOU GONNA BELIEVE?

07/12/22 WHO YOU GONNA BELIEVE?

God says, Be holy, pure, righteous even as He is.

Satan says you can't be.

Who do you believe?

07/12/22 REPRINT: HOLY SPIRIT

07/12/22 REPRINT: HOLY SPIRIT

This article I wrote tells the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. You can't be spiritual without the Holy Spirit and you can't be holy without the Holy Spirit.

11/24/20 ESSENTIAL AND EXPERIENTIAL

Essential truths. Experiential salvation.

TWO THOUGHTS...
1- The miracle of salvation is not so much that God loves us, which is marvelous beyond comprehension, but that salvation (not simply forgiveness), transforms us from twisted and broken sinners to holy and whole followers of Christ by supernaturally conforming us to image of Jesus.

2- Salvation from sin and selfishness to holiness and faithfulness is accomplished by the two instantaneous and Divine works of grace (justification and entire sanctification), and by the walk of grace, which follows our total commitment.

Re-posting one of my earlier articles.
08/12/19 THE HOLY SPIRIT IN BELIEVERS

Here is a post I made in 2013, concerning a quick reference to the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.
In this quick reference I give passages for the Holy Spirit's work in our Regeneration, Victorious Life (walk), Bearing Spiritual Fruit, Leading, Purifying of the Heart, Filling, Anointing, Teaching, Spiritual Gifting, Empowering, and our Sealing.
I hope you receive a blessing.

10/05/13 LET GOD'S LIGHT ENLIGHTEN YOUR HEART
The Bible does not contradict itself, but rather the clearer statements illuminate the more difficult statements. HOWEVER, the Bible does contradict the teachings of men that do not agree with the clear revelation of God.
With this as a basis of understanding the Bible, consider my previous post, THE HOLY SPIRIT IN BELIEVERS, and accept the truth that Christ saves His people from their sins. Christ does not save His people in their sins, with their sins or simply from the penalty of sin, but from their sins.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN BELIEVERS

BORN OF THE SPIRIT
John 3:5
(5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (Jn. 3:6).

LIVING, WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
Romans 8:12-13
(12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
(13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Ro. 8:5,9-10; Ga. 5:16, 25).

BEARING FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:22-23
(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

LED BY THE SPIRIT
Romans 8:14
(14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

PURIFIED BY THE SPIRIT
Acts 15:8-9
(8) And God, which knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
(9) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (1 Th. 4:7-8; 1 Pe. 1:2, 22).

FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
Ephesians 5:18
(18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ac.2:13-18; 4:8, 31; 6:3; 11:24).

ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT
Luke 4:18
(18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

TAUGHT BY THE SPIRIT
John 14:26
(26) But 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. (Lk. 12:12; Jo. 15:26; 16:13).

GIFTED BY THE SPIRIT
Hebrews 2:4
(4) God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (1 Co. 12:4).

EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT
Acts 1:8
[8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Ac. 10:38; Ro. 15:13, 19).

SEALED BY THE SPIRIT
Ephesians 4:30
(30) And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (2 Co. 1:22; Ep. 1:13)

BTW, do not expect Christ to save you from your sins if you do not trust Him fully and surrender fully to His Lordship. God neither forces anyone to go to heaven or hell. He enables us and requires us to make a reasonable choice.

Isaiah 55:6-7
(6) Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
(7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

07/12/22 THE BELIEVER EMBRACES HOLINESS

07/12/22 THE BELIEVER EMBRACES HOLINESS

If your inner man fights against holiness, total surrender, perfect love, then you need God's purifying fullness, here and now.

07/12/22 DO OR DON'T DO, THERE IS NO TRY

07/12/22 DO OR DON'T DO, THERE IS NO TRY

BE perfect (in love) as our Father in heaven is perfect.

Jesus didn't say try, He said, BE. It's not a goal, it's the foundation.

07/12/22 THE PERFECT LOVE OF GOD

07/12/22 THE PERFECT LOVE OF GOD

Biblical holiness is pure love, which sets our course and fills our sails.

It is the perfection of love, which never fails.

07/1/22 HOLINESS BRINGS WHOLENESS

07/1/22 HOLINESS BRINGS WHOLENESS

Holiness isn't just what we do, it is what we are, through and through, in newness of life, from a heavenly view.

07/12/22 HOLINESS IS DESIRABLE

07/12/22 HOLINESS IS DESIRABLE

The message and life of holiness is not about legalism, it is about wholeness in Christ.

To be holy you gladly give up everything else.

07/12/22 GOD DELIVERS FROM BONDAGE

07/12/22 GOD DELIVERS FROM BONDAGE

If you are held captive by corrupt alignments (including political), when you repent and call on Christ, He will set you free.

07/12/22 ESTABLISHED 2008

07/12/22 ESTABLISHED 2008

For those who did not like my postings during abomination years, don't say I did not warn you.

07/12/22 A DESTRUCTIVE EUPHEMISM

07/12/22 A DESTRUCTIVE EUPHEMISM

The promise to Fundamentally Transform America was a plan to Fatalistically Deform America; and it is working today.

07/12/22 GET OFF THAT GARBAGE SCOW

07/12/22 GET OFF THAT GARBAGE SCOW

The Democrat party is advancing the most oppressive, dangerous agenda in US history.

Time to abandon that garbage scow.

07/12/22 ABANDON THAT SLAVE SHIP

07/12/22 ABANDON THAT SLAVE SHIP

Dems got rid of Trump b/c of womanizing, crude talk, replacing him with the most perverted, Socialistic, divisive Admin ever.

LBJ bought Blacks with The Great Society in 64, saying, "I'll have those N...... voting Democratic for 200 years."

Abandon that Slave Ship.

07/12/22 IT IS HISTORY, IT IS TRUE

07/12/22 IT IS HISTORY, IT IS TRUE

LBJ bought Blacks with The Great Society in 64, saying, "I'll have those N...... voting Democratic for 200 years." Check it out then get out.

07/12/22 WAIT NO LONGER TO DO RIGHT

07/12/22 WAIT NO LONGER TO DO RIGHT

Sadly, the Democrats promote an irreversible sexual agenda ruining millions of young lives.

07/12/22 DEFORMED USA, STILL NO APOLOGY

07/12/22 DEFORMED USA, STILL NO APOLOGY

Kids get drunk, do the unthinkable, try to make amends when they sober up.

Liberals seldom sober up.

07/12/22 LIFE IS UNFAIR IN SINNING RELIGION

07/12/22 LIFE IS UNFAIR IN SINNING RELIGION

Sinning religion mocks clear directives to NOT SIN, but offers twisted Scripture to excuse sin in believers.

07/12/22 FORGET IT, IT AIN'T THERE

07/12/22 FORGET IT, IT AIN'T THERE

While you are at it, what passage says God commends believers for sinning?

07/12/22 JUST ONE WILL DO

07/12/22 JUST ONE WILL DO

So, again, exactly what passage says we have to sin after we get saved?

07/12/22 UNHOLY SMOKE(SCREEN)

07/12/22 UNHOLY SMOKE(SCREEN)

Proponents of cult teaching try to avoid facing Biblical truths by turning attention to a plethora of other Biblical issues.

07/12/22 AN ATTACK ON THE HEART

07/12/22 AN ATTACK ON THE HEART

Never take it lightly that a person (friend, relative, authority figure) tells you that sin does not separate you from God.

07/12/22 HE DOES, WE SHOULD, WE CAN

07/12/22 HE DOES, WE SHOULD, WE CAN

If God commands that we, in the present time, should do a certain thing, then we can do it, in the present time.

07/11/22 IT IS EITHER, OR

07/11/22 IT IS EITHER, OR

God says we can overcome every temptation.

Satan says we can't resist all temptation.

Who do you believe?

07/11/22 CHOOSE CAREFULLY

07/11/22 CHOOSE CAREFULLY

God says believers do not have to sin.
Satan says we have to sin.
Who do you believe?

07/11/22 HE IS ABLE

07/11/22 HE IS ABLE

Can God save you from even ONE sin?

If not, He is not much of a Savior.

If God can save you from One sin, why not TWO or ALL SIN?

07/11/22 SHORT, SIMPLE, SPIRITUALLY SEARCHING

07/11/22 SHORT, SIMPLE, SPIRITUALLY SEARCHING

I love the short Christian song, "The Greatest Thing In All My Life Is..." which goes on to say, knowing, loving and serving You. It also says, "I want to know (love, serve) you more." Great truths. Life changing truths.

Knowing Him, not simply knowing about Him. Knowing Him in the truest and deepest spiritual sense of the word. Knowing Him as Savior, Master, Friend. 

Loving Him with all of my being and strength. Knowing Him as Savior, Master, Friend. Being perfected in love by the infilling and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And because I love Him, I keep His commandment and do that which is pleasing in His sight. Loving Him is the Royal Law, the Law of Liberty, Because I love Him, His commands are not grievous to me. And I love Him, because He first loved me.

Serving Him, not simply obeying Him from duty, but obeying and serving Him because it is my hearts desire. I am both His child and His servant. I am His love slave, bound to Him with a pure love. Loving Him as God, Sacrifice, Savior, Master, Friend, Intercessor.

Notice also, this song is applicable to the whole man.
Knowing Him is related to our soul.
Loving Him is related to our spirit.
Serving Him is related to our body.

I want to know Him more.
I want to love Him more.
I want to serve Him more.

07/11/22 I AM SOOO BLESSED

07/11/22 I AM SOOO BLESSED

Me and my girl (Martha) took a drive to Davis today. I love living Down East.

Walked out on the docks at the boat ramp. Saw lots of bait fish of various sizes, as well as turtles, fish, a shark.

Talked with a native Peruvian on vacation from Loudan County, Va. He sang the praises of USA calling it the greatest country in the world, but he sees the dangers that our present Administration and Liberal society presents.

I shared a quick witness before he started to fish, then we came on home.

07/11/22 ONE FOLLOWS THE OTHER

07/11/22 ONE FOLLOWS THE OTHER

This generation is ready to dump the U. S. Constitution (The Rule of Law) and embrace Marxism, having already rejected God's word.

07/11/22 EARS TO HEAR... STILL

07/11/22 EARS TO HEAR... STILL

MY MESSAGE IS STILL THE SAME
This re-post is from 12 years ago. I have actually been preaching the same thing for over half a century. It is not only as true today as it was when God said it in the Bible, it is evidenced in the fact that today Gallup says that only 20% of Americans believe the Bible is the literal word of God. (I think 20% is a great overstatement). If people do not listen, they do not hear. If they do not hear, they do not follow God. 

JULY 11, 2010
To HEAR with the HEART is essential. Most people do not hear with the heart. They read and do not understand what they read. They hear teachers, preachers and singers proclaim life changing truths but they are never transformed. People attend good churches with good preachers, but they go away without hearing from God or hearing all that God wants them to hear, because they do not listen with their hearts.

HEAR WITH YOUR HEART TODAY...

God gave us ears with which to hear, yet most people still do not hear. Jesus is recorded several times as saying...
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Mt. 11:15, 13:43; Mk. 4:9, 23, 7:16; Lk. 8:8; Re. 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22).

Listen to the preacher with the heart. Expect to be enlightened; blessed; and changed from glory to glory (2 Co. 3:18), taken from faith to faith (Ro. 1:17), increasing from strength to strength (Ps. 84:7) and moving from grace to grace (Jn. 1:16).

Listen to the preacher/pastor as an angel/messenger sent from God with a message for you (Re. 1:20). The preacher is God called, God equipped, God anointed. The preacher may be altogether unremarkable in himself, but he is the vessel of God's message to you.

To neglect or disrespect God's preacher is to cut off God's messenger. To cut off God's messenger is to cut off God's message. To cut off God's message is to cut off God.
Read the Scriptures with expectation and listen to the messenger with an eager, hungry, thirsty heart.

Don't allow the meager morsels of this mortal realm deaden your desire for heavenly and eternal fare. Open your ears, eyes, heart and be filled with truth and life, so that you may open your mouth and hands, in Spirit filled service to others.

07/10/22 SELF EXAM QUESTIONS

07/10/22 SELF EXAM QUESTIONS

What kind of church,
Would my church be,
If all of the members,
Were just like me?

What important ministry do you bring to your local church?

If you were unable to be part of your local church for a month, other than your presence, why would you be missed?

If you were unable to be part of your local church for a month, would you be missed primarily for your spiritual and relational input or the functions you perform?

Would you recommend someone like yourself to be part of a church or mission planting ministry? If so, Why? If not, Why not?

Would you financially support someone like yourself to be part of a church or mission planting ministry? If so, Why? If not, Why not?

Are fellow believers in your church more impressed with your humility and willingness to serve or with your boldness and abilities?
Can you serve as excitedly as a helper as you can as a leader?

Are you well suited to be submissive to another person's authority in the church?

Would other team leaders consider you to be a quiet, humble team member?

If you have not humbly done everything you can to keep relationships current, then you have no right to find fault with anyone.

07/10/22 ONE THING IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS

07/10/22 ONE THING IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS

Biblical: If you sin...; If you walk in the light...; If you confess your sins...

Satanic: If you sin you won't die.

07/10/22 THE HIGHEST OFFICE OF AUTHORITY

07/10/22 THE HIGHEST OFFICE OF AUTHORITY

Let me preface this post by pointing out that there are many wolves in sheep's clothing and there are also many "hirelings" who seek their own benefit.

STILL, when the pastor is God's chosen vessel, there is no leader, or servant more important than a Bible wise, Spirit filled, Christ following pastor. No office in the legal world, political world, academic world, economic world, medical world, law enforcement or military world is more important than the man God has appointed to keep watch over your soul.

Think about it. When your life on earth is done, it will not be anything other than what you did for Christ that will last. None of the disciplines of life, which I mentioned earlier, will matter if you or your loved ones don't make it to heaven.

If you gain the whole world, but lose your own soul, then your life is useless. Don't rob God and don't rob others by robbing God, and thereby robbing them of God's truth.

07/10/22 CALLED TO MINISTER

07/10/22 CALLED TO MINISTER

I have done a lot of different ministries over the years. I did various styles while I was a ministry student. The greatest part was the service rendered to Jesus as a sacrifice of love and the service given to other people, because they were in need.

It does not matter whether a person has a calling to vocational service or not. All Christians are called to full time ministry. Whether it is full time vocational or full time lay ministry, God deserves our best.

I believe it can be the highlight of individual lives and for family relationships as well. Whether vocational or lay ministry, it will require total commitment.

The song says,
"Rise up O men of God,
The church for you doth wait.
Her strength unequal to her task.
Rise up and make her great."

It is super sad how few hear the call and command of Christ.
Sad, too, how few sense the desperate need of a lost and dying world.

07/10/22 AS CHAPLAIN TO THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY

07/10/22 AS CHAPLAIN TO THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY

While studying, meditating, reflecting, praying, I thought about the times I served as Voluntary Chaplain in a Mobile Chapel, to the trucking industry, in west K-Town, Tennessee. I ministered from Thursday mornings until Saturday evenings, staying on site. It was about 40 miles from my mountain home, but I was on duty for about 58 hours.

The chapel had a meeting area for services, counseling, study and fellowship; a sleeping quarters for the chaplain. I was often busy at all hours of the day and night, since it was a truck stop and the drivers would come in as they felt like it. I ate my meals in the restaurant and took my showers at the area set aside for drivers. I ministered to the drivers, the truck stop personnel, travelers and wanderers. I really enjoyed that work.

I did this as a volunteer, since I was a full time pastor. One of my favorite Christmas memories was one weekend that Martha and Joanna came and ministered with me. In the evening, the three of us ate our meal, then we went from table to table singing Christmas songs, and I would give a Christian greeting to the travelers. Joanna played the guitar. It was like something from a Hallmark movie or a Saturday Evening Post scene or a Currier and Ives card. I can't even convey the feeling.

ANYWAY, as I strolled down memory lane I took a couple of snapshots of the area from Google Earth. It has changed some, but it is almost like it was 20 years ago.

07/09/22 IS HE YOUR REASON FOR LIVING?

07/09/22 IS HE YOUR REASON FOR LIVING?

Is your place in the local body being filled with your very best?

Do you serve as unto the Lord; for His glory alone?

07/09/22 GIVE OF YOUR BEST TO THE MASTER

07/09/22 GIVE OF YOUR BEST TO THE MASTER

If there is anything we are more dedicated to than our service to Christ, we are warped.

He deserves, demands our best, our all.

07/09/22 CONSIDER THE SOURCE

07/09/22 CONSIDER THE SOURCE

Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, MacArthur, Sproul, Piper agree with Satan, concerning sin "You shall not die."

Yep, it's a damnable lie.

07/09/22 IS THERE A BACKUP?

07/09/22 IS THERE A BACKUP?

If your pastor gets arrested this weekend for preaching truth, who will step up into spiritual leadership, Bible teaching positions?

07/09/22 HOW YA DOING?

07/09/22 HOW YA DOING?

The longer a person follows Jesus, the deeper, more mature, Christlike, Spirit filled, Bible wise he should be.

How you doing?

07/09/22 DON'T DEFACE GOD'S MASTERPIECE

07/09/22 DON'T DEFACE GOD'S MASTERPIECE

People who deliberately deface works of art and historical items (paintings, tapestries, sculptures, architecture, documents, music) are vandals. People who deliberately deface God's word and His transforming workmanship (human lives, relationships, local congregations) are blasphemers.

Those who vandalize or deface human works of art are guilty of ruining precious art, historic items, social symbols. Those who resist, reject and stand against God's intricate work of salvation in individuals are guilty of destroying human lives, Divine transformations, eternal treasures.

God does His workmanship in us through His Spirit and His word. This comes through personal study, meditation, worship, obedience, surrender. Our relationship with God should be a transforming relationship as we grow in grace and knowledge and as we worship and serve Him in spirit and in truth and as we live in the beauty of holiness.

God's workmanship, His fearful and wonderful artistry, design and His Divine power that regenerates us and transforms us from darkness to light, from sinner to saint, and conforms us to the image of Jesus, and continues to move us from faith to faith and from light to light and to add to us His grace upon grace, is also accomplished through the Spirit filled and Spirit led preaching and teaching of God's word.

God's workmanship takes place in private and in public. Do not neglect or reject God's means of grace that comes from the proclamation of His word.

Defacing and ruining human works of art use fire, liquids, knives, sledge hammers, bombs, pen and ink. Defacing God's handiwork is a matter of resisting, rejecting, mocking, minimizing by attacking and refuting Divine authority and influence.