If you are a tender person and you enjoy the praises of men, you will not make the team for the narrow road. Jesus said, If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.
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My desire is to share meat: and go beyond the beginning principles of the doctrine of Christ, but church goers are unable to eat meat.
We are asked to go on unto perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. All these are milk that everyone has an opinion on. Church goers can't get these basic doctrines right and are always fussing over them. These confused religious ones who claim to be the Bride of Christ are in truth members of the anti church John saw in Revelation chapter 17. Christians are not to get entangled with the outward religious trappings of these who have a form of godliness, but who deny the power there of. Christians are Christians by the faith of Jesus Christ. We have something that can not be seen and the world knows nothing about. We are born of God. We are new creatures. We are quickened. We have ears to hear what the Lord says. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death: ... that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us... in this life. We are able to say from experience, "Christ truly delivers from sin and He truly gives new life." He has put His law in our mind and wrote them in our hearts: and He is our God and we are His people. This is the new covenant which Jesus fulfilled when He gave us His Holy Spirit. He is able to lead and guide us. His word is alive and all His promises are true. Every individual will have to come to a decision concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Joshua sent the challenge: "If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 25:15 In other words he is saying, are you going back to sin? Are you going to fit in and live the way the world, the society, tells you to? Or are you going to live for God? You choose. The people said they would serve the Lord. Joshua said, you can't serve Him because He is an holy God; He is a jealous God...
Jesus made a way for you to live with God. He washed away your sins with His blood so that you can be set free, be quickened, and become holy. Jesus said in Luke 12:51, "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division." There is no middle ground. Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Who is on the LORD'S side?" There is the Lord's side and there is the world, the flesh, and the Devil's side. James said, "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." John said of Jesus that He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. The Lord wants you to be on fire for Him. Revelation 3:16 states, "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." James says if you lack wisdom you should ask of God: "But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind...Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do." It is all for Jesus or nothing. A lot of people think they will get away with being whatever they are: playing with sin and the Devil while their mouth is sweet towards Jesus. Jesus knows the heart: they can't fool him. They might fool God's people sometimes, but be sure that their sins will find them out. They are like King Saul. Samuel said to him, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king." God does not play around with people's lives. If you follow Him whole heartedly, He will see you through this life. If you reject Him, He will reject you. Jesus gave His all for us to have eternal life. No one will have any excuses on judgement day. Jesus died to destroy the works of the Devil and set us free from the bondage of sin. Hebrews 10:26, 27, and 29 tells us, "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remained no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us." When Jesus returns to be glorified in His saints, every eye will see Him, the good, the bad, the ugly and whatever falls in between. And He will execute judgment. Read Jude for yourself. If you will serve Jesus, you must forsake sin and the flesh, and let Jesus make you pure. The Bible tells us how to live for Jesus. Read, believe, and live the Bible. Talk with Jesus all the time, and dwell in His presence. As Christians, we each should have the testimony of Jesus in our lives. We should be able to say, "I know Him and He knows me." Jesus is what makes a Christian a Christian. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh to the Father but by me." He said, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."
Matthew 7:21-23 says “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity!" Salvation comes through Jesus alone. The church cannot give salvation. Our own actions cannot give us salvation. No one is born a Christian unless they are born of God, born again, quickened in the newness of life, baptized in the spirit and fire. It is a work of God. When that salvation of God happens we have the testimony of Jesus in our lives and we delight to do His will. We know Him and hear what He says and obey His words because He is our Father and we love and revere Him. Love gives you a choice. Don't disappoint love. I can see why God gives people a choice to live or not live for Him. If one is not happy with Jesus in this life, how will one be happy with him forever in his presence in heaven. He doesn't want anyone who is unhappy with His salvation.
Here is an old old story that I read a long time ago. There were three sisters of which two were fervently and happily serving the Lord, but one enjoyed the night life and frivolous living. She was a beautiful girl who did what she wanted and was the life of most parties. Needless to say her sisters were continuously praying for her safety and most of all, her salvation. One night she had a dream that the Lord invited her to heaven. She saw that everything was so peaceful and lovely. She notice that there were people singing praises to King Jesus. Many beckoned her to come and joined them, but she would not. Finally Jesus approached her and asked her, "Do you not like it here?" She replied, "No I do not." Then He said to her, "What are you doing here then?" She felt herself falling down into hell and awoke startled. She told her sisters about her dream. They encouraged her to repent to Jesus, but she would not. Soon after she took ill and died. The people that God will have in heaven are people that love Him and know that He loves them. They are the people that have found rest and peace in Him. They are people that are eternally grateful for His kindness, His grace, and His salvation. They are the people that live for Jesus now. They have overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they love not their lives even unto death. (They were ready to die as God's servant.) People do not seem to be aware of their own public nakedness. Now a days women dress with no regard for decency and are totally unaware of their nakedness. Men in their tight jeans or sport tights and leggings and being shirtless are also immodest. In the Bible Ham looked at his father's nakedness, and was cursed. The other brothers covered their father's nakedness without looking at him and were blessed. (Genesis 9:22-23) Being naked is something a person should be ashamed of, not something to be glorified.
(Hosea 2:9-10“Therefore, I will take back My grain at harvest time And My new wine in its season. I will also take away My wool and My flax given to cover her nakedness. And then I will uncover her lewdness In the sight of her lovers, And no one will rescue her out of My hand. Isaiah 47:3 “Your nakedness will be uncovered, Your shame also will be exposed; I will take vengeance and will not spare a man.”) I see that nakedness is a punishment. The god of this world has blinded people's eyes and made them to be contrary to God. Before I was saved I was blinded to my own nakedness, unaware of my own immodesty until Jesus revealed it to me a few years after my salvation. I was dressed in jeans and shirt; I looked just like everyone else, but Jesus spoke to me and I was able to see and understand. I was on the sidewalk looking at my own reflection off a window of Fred Meyers on Sandy Blvd. in Portland, Oregon when the Lord Jesus spoke to me. I went home and changed my outfit and got rid of the jeans. I have been trying to dress modestly, with decency and propriety ever since and have been teaching my children to do so. (Revelation 3:18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.) Does God care about how you look? God cares about your heart and often times how you look reflects your heart. One of my girls suggested that Christians should dress attractively. I replied, not necessarily, it depends whom you are trying to attract. Does the attractive clothes you wear make you feel sensual? This is not God's spirit. God's spirit is clean and pure and if He dwells in you, Jesus will reveal to you what is clean and pure. 1 Peter 3:3-5 and 1 Timothy 2:9 encourages women to focus on beautifying themselves in their heart with a meek and quiet spirit and trusting in the Lord rather then the outward adorning. Deuteronomy 22: 5 says, "A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this." Obviously the Lord wanted men and women to dress distinctively according to their gender. Dresses and skirts pertain to women, while pants pertain to men. It used to be said men wear the pants in the family, meaning they are the head of the household. Not all dresses and skirts are modest; there are tight fitting, short, and reveling clothing. How they fit on you is the key to modesty. 1Timothy 2:9 says, "I want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes." (NIV). Adorning (beautify, trim) Modestly (in an unassuming manner, humble, not elaborate or luxurious, to avoid impropriety or indecency, humble Decency (virtue, purity, tact, thoughtfulness, seemliness) Propriety (appropriateness, respectability, correctness). God wants to clothed Christians with garments of salvation and robes of righteous. He wants to gird us with gladness and the mantle of praise. We are asked to clothe ourselves with humility and put on the armor of light. He wants us to take onto us the full armor of God; gird our loins with truth, have on the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, take on the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. We are asked to put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. We are asked to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. . Are you tired of sin in your life? Are you sin sick? Do you need deliverance? Jesus died that He may free you from your sins. Hebrews 2 says that Jesus became flesh and blood like us that He through death might destroy him that hath the power of death, that is the devil; and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage... because Jesus suffered being tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
Knowing the salvation that Jesus Christ brought to my life. It is most puzzling to me that some Christians argue that they are sinners and insist that I lie if I say I am not. They may still be sinners, but I was a sinner and Jesus saved me from my sins; now I have no interest in sinning. Now I want to live my all for Jesus, there is no other life for me. Why would I want to go back to the pig pen? Jesus told the man that he healed, "Sin no more lest a worse thing happen unto you," and to the adulterous woman Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." The Lord saves us so that we have power to sin no more. Jesus tells us in John 8:34 that whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. Paul echoes this thought in Romans 6 saying, Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness. But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness. Jesus says in John 8 that if the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. Many people like to quote 1st John chapter 1 but they forget about the rest of the book. Chapter 2 tells us straight out that John is writing to tell us that we should sin not! It tells us that Jesus is able to take hold of us and forgive us our sins. And we are supposed to grow up in Christ by knowing Him and keeping His word: because you are strong and the word of God abideth in you and you have overcome the evil one. Chapter 3 of 1st John tells us that Jesus was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. And here is the key to life in Christ verse 6: whosoever ABIDETH in HIM sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil... Whosoever is born of God doth not sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Believe me, God is able to give His children power over sin. Abide in JESUS. Many people live a life of lies. They lie to others and they lie to themselves. They make up partial truths. They lie about their looks. They lie about their age. They lie about their past. They lie about their present. They lie about the things they celebrate. They lie to their children. They are lost in lies, and wherever they are they are in their own made up world until reality reveals the truth, and they are burned by it. In John 8: 44 Jesus said, for he (the devil) is a liar, and the father of it. The Bible tells us that among many others, all liars will have their part in the lake which burneth with fire. A lie entraps those who lie. It is better to keep ones mouth shut than to make lies and excuses for oneself. Think of the couple Ananias and Sapphira in Acts chapter 5 who lied to not only Peter but the Holy Ghost. They wanted to look good for doing good but was caught by God, for being deceptive, and died that same day. The Bible teaches us to be careful what we say and try to do our best to fulfil our promises. Ephesians 4:25 tells us to stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth. Jesus tells us, all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be bought to light and made known to all. Proverbs 12:19 says, truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed. Sir Walter Scott wrote "Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive." It is a big impossible knot that only Jesus the God of truth can unwind. The Bible tells us that if we continue in Jesus' word then we are His disciples; and we will know the truth and the truth will make us free. Jesus said, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you will be free indeed." When Jesus saved me, I felt very clean and free. I was and still am so happy for my salvation and deliverance from sin. I became born again and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Bible signifies that the Holy Ghost is the Comforter (John 14:26) and the Spirit of truth (John 16:13) who guides me into all truth. As I read the word of God (the Bible) and prayed and entered into His presence, I received what God had to say and applied it to my life. Jesus said, He is the way, the truth and the life. As I received and acknowledged God's word in my life and rejected what's not true, I found myself fulfilling God's word in my life and found joy in it. |
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