12/31/24 A STRONG, SURRENDERED, SANCTIFIED, SPIRIT IS HOLY SPIRIT CONTROLLED

12/31/24 A STRONG, SURRENDERED, SANCTIFIED, SPIRIT IS HOLY SPIRIT CONTROLLED

The human will is a gift of God. The misuse of the will can be an abomination and a blasphemy.

A strong will is not a bad thing. In fact, a strong will is a good thing.

The real problem is a self will, a carnal will. This results in an uncontrolled self and an undisciplined life.

Christians should have a strong will, which is surrendered to Christ. When we have a surrendered will we will have a sanctified (purified) will, we will have a Spirit controlled will. Self control is the fruit of the Spirit.

Christians need to live the surrendered life; not the crucified life. We must be crucified with Christ, dead to the world, the flesh and the devil. Crucifixion is part of the purifying work of God in us. After our death to self, we are able to walk, abide, live in consistent holiness and victor because we will be living in the power of the Holy Spirit.

12/31/24 GUARD THE GATES

12/31/24 GUARD THE GATES

I have been thinking about the importance of guarding the GATES to our inner man. (Remember the gates in Bunyan's "Holy War.")

I hope to come back to this as we begin 2025, but in the meantime, let me just mention two of these gates today: Ear-Gate and Mouth-Gate.

We need to guard our hearing. Sometimes it is a matter of filtering what we hear. 

We need to guard our speaking.

Suffice it to say, we need to put a guard concerning the things we hear and the things we say. Guard yourself from the thoughts that come through the ear and the thoughts that are expressed through the mouth.

We must speak truth and we must speak it in love. We shouldn't speak something just because we think it. We should not lie, we should not gossip, we should not speak perverse things, we should not utter curses, we should not cause division with our words. There are many things we should keep our mouths from speaking.

On the other hand, there are a great number of things we can and we should do with our speaking. We should encourage, we should inform, we should evangelize, we should comfort, we should build up, we should praise, we should confess, we should worship.

Psalms 19:14
14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. 

Psalms 141:3-4
3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

12/31/24 GUARD YOUR EAR-GATE

12/31/24 GUARD YOUR EAR-GATE

Sometimes we are given words of encouragement, but at the time the words seem to be words of discouragement, even when the words are right and even when the delivery was right.

Decide that you are going to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Filter what you hear through love and faith. This could save you a lot of grief and disappointment.

2 Corinthians 10:5
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;

12/30/24 IS YOUR DELIGHT IN THE LORD?

12/30/24 IS YOUR DELIGHT IN THE LORD?

A little over a year ago I pointed out that OBEDIENCE BRINGS JOY, based on verses which refer to the believer delighting in the law of of the Lord.

Last week I addressed the blessing that comes with meditation, which included verses referring to delighting in God's word.

I am re-posting last year's post, but I am adding some other verses related to delighting in the Lord. The added verses will have 3 asterisks before the ***reference.

12/08/23 OBEDIENCE, NOT DISOBEDIENCE, BRINGS JOY
(I have edited some statements to make them easier to understand. These edits do not change my premise).

Sometimes we do things we want to do and sometimes we do things we ought to do. Being a Christian means doing things we ought to do and we also want to do, because as Christians (Biblical, Spirit filled, Christ following Christians) we delight to do His will.

There are dark times, trying times, difficult times, even for Christians. There are battles, there are losses, there are heartaches, but those negatives do not come as chastisements or curses from being obedient to God, though testing, which proves and improves our spiritual condition may come, as with Job. Jesus did not seek to escape the cross (contrary to the popular lie told these days). It was not the Father's will that was negative to Jesus. He despised the shame, but embraced the cross, because it was the will of the Father.

There are things we must do in obedience to God that are not fun things, things that often come with great sorrow, but it is not obedience to God that causes our loss or our sorrow. Sorrow and loss can come to us because of someone else's disobedience). It is the testing (proving and improving our l walk with Christ), and the disobedience of other people, which takes us through that valley or that slough or that desert or that wasteland.

As I said, it is not obedience to God that brings us misery. On the contrary, it is disobedience that brings misery, but obedience brings joy, even when we pass through the trial.

Psalms 1:1-2
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalms 37:3-8
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

*** Psalms 37:11
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

*** Psalms 37:23
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Psalms 40:8
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Psalms 94:17-19
17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

Psalms 112:1
1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Psalms 119:16
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Psalms 119:24
24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.

Psalms 119:33-35
33 HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

Psalms 119:47-48
47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

Psalms 119:68-72
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Psalms 119:77
77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

*** Psalms 119:92
92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

*** Psalms 119:142-143
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.

Psalms 119:174
174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.

*** Romans 7:22
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

12/30/24 REPOST WITH NEW INTRO

12/30/24 RE-POST WITH NEW INTRO

This is basically a re-post of an article I wrote in September of this year. I hope you will read it, with your heart open to the real message I am sharing.

It is not simply about holy living. It is about a pure, holy heart, which God provides to believers, as an instantaneous, crises, subsequent work of gracious salvation, available to believers who not only want clean hands but a pure heart, believers who want to love God with their whole being, believers who want to be delivered from the inward pollution and struggle they have with the "law of sin and death" (aka "The Body of this Death"), which Paul referred to in Romans 7, and from which God provided the answer in Christ Jesus and explains in Romans 8.

Remember, God's word says,
James 4:8
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Re-Post
09/23/24 TWO CURIOSITIES...

1 To me, it is a curiosity that some people dedicate themselves to follow Jesus fully, but they verbally deny the Biblical doctrines of heart purity and holy living.

2 To me, it is also a curiosity that other people profess the Biblical doctrines of heart purity and holy living, but they do not produce the Fruit of the Spirit.

In the first case, the person's heart is ahead of his head.
In the second case, the person's head is ahead of his heart.

These two curiosities ought not to be, since there is both sweet and bitter water flowing from the same well. If you are a believer and follower of Christ (saved, born again), examine yourself to make sure that you are not Double Minded; to make sure that you do not have the Old Man; to make sure that you do not have an evil heart of unbelief; to make sure that you are not a carnal Christian; to make sure that you are not walking in the flesh, but make sure you are walking in the Spirit.

The problem with most Christians today (especially in the West) is that they have swallowed the lies of sinning religion from Roman and Reformed theologies (which veered from God's revealed truth), either in precept or in practice, and often it is in precept and practice.

Sinning religion says...
God cannot purify hearts and produce holy living in Christians,
OR,
God will not purify hearts and produce holy living, which is to say that God wills for believers to have impure hearts and live unholy lives.
OR
God does not care if we have pure hearts and live righteously.

Heart purity and holy living are Biblical truths of God's salvation.
God wants us to be holy and to live holy lives;
God provided salvation, which will make His people holy and enable us to live holy lives;
God requires us to be holy and to live holy lives.

So, we either believe and follow the God of salvation or we follow the god of sinning religion.

We ought to believe and follow the God of the Bible in precept and practice.

God's word clearly teaches that salvation delivers believers from all sin in this present evil world (this is Christian perfection, entire sanctification), which is not to be confused with resurrection perfection (glorification).

The overview of a salvation experience is...
As a lost or sinful person, we recognize that condemnation comes because of our sins, and we realize our need to be reconciled to God through Christ's sacrificial death and physical resurrection.
We are justified and regenerated, which is part of believing, repenting, confessing and following Christ.
As an obedient child of God, we recognize our need to be delivered from the sin nature and we make full surrender, trusting God to purify our hearts.
(Remember, sin is both a state of being [sin, or root], and action [sins, fruit]. God has provided forgiveness and deliverance from our sins (what we do, represented by our hands), and sin (what we are, represented by our heart).

Psalms 24:3-5
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
James 4:6-10
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

2 Corinthians 7:1
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

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.

1 John 3:3-10
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

In response to a comment...
It is commendable that you want to please God, but your statement needs to be addressed.

Do you ask God to forgive you of the sins He has already forgiven? I hope not.

Likewise we do not need to continually ask God to purify our hearts of the Adamic nature, once we have been entirely sanctified, as a crisis experience subsequent to our conversion.

ALSO, God does not give us strength, or work with us to rid the "flesh" (not sure what this phrase is supposed to mean). The only thing we can do to be rid of the Adamic nature, which is the flesh (the carnal mind), is to totally surrender, ask, and trust God for total cleansing. It is part of our salvation.

Sadly, few Christians ever hear about this purifying, which takes place when we die to self and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Some people teach that we "die daily," to the sin nature. This is not true. We should die once and then live daily. We fight the good fight, but we do not die continuously. And the, "we," or the "I," that should die is not anything other than the Old Man.

I would guess that you might have questions about what I am saying. I hope I can be of some help.

God says we are to speak the TRUTH in love. There is no real love without real truth and there is no real truth without real love. Love is no excuse for avoiding, ignoring or rejecting truth.

12/30/24 GOD IN US, TO WILL AND TO DO

12/30/24 GOD IN US, TO WILL AND TO DO

God does not tell us to do something, which is impossible for us to do.

If it requires Divine enablement, He provides what we need. God tells us to keep His commandments.

We can obey Him. It is our choice. 

Philippians 2:12-16
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

12/30/24 HOW PERVASIVE IS FALSE DOCTRINE?

12/30/24 HOW PERVASIVE IS FALSE DOCTRINE?

It is not unusual for me to be asked a certain question, when I am addressing the errors and lies of false doctrines and false teacher.

The question is, "what Christian teachers (or preachers) do you follow (or agree with)."

This question implies that I don't agree with anyone else, that I think I am the only one who is right.

Of course, it is important to remember, in those conversations I had been addressing false doctrines, which unfortunately are widely taught by some of the most popular "teachers" and "preachers" of the day.

The Bible refutes the "Jesus Only" (oneness, so-called Apostolic) lie.

The Bible refutes polytheism (including the LDS doctrine that "God the Father" was once a man and became a god and that the men who follow Mormon religion will also become gods).

The Bible refutes the denial of Christ's Divinity (as found in the beliefs of the so-called Jehovah's Witnesses).

The Bible refutes the sinlessness of Mary (immaculate conception), the continued sacrificial death of Christ (the Mass), the Pope as head of the Church on earth, beliefs of the Roman Catholic Religion).

The Bible refutes the idea that humans are incapable of freely believing on Christ and turning from sin (total depravity, as taught by many), Jesus died only for the unilaterally and unconditionally elect (unconditional and limited atonement), the idea that sin does not separate from God (once saved always saved). All of these heresies are taught by sinning religion (related to Reformed Theology and Calvinism).

The Bible refutes the idea that a person can be saved, aside from exclusive faith in Jesus (Joel Osteen, among others).

The Bible refutes the idea that Christians are little gods (as taught by some Name-It-Claim-It, or Health and Wealth, or "Prosperity Gospel" false prophets).

As you can see, there are plenty of false doctrines that are popular and there are a great number of false prophets spreading the lies. I have only scratched the surface.

Since I often expose false doctrines, it is understandable that I name the false prophets and false teachers. Sadly, many of the popular teachers are teaching false doctrines.

This does not mean that I think I am the only one with the truth. But the fact is that so many are abandoning the truth of God, and therefore, those who are faithful to the word of God will find themselves in a smaller group and even find themselves being persecuted by the the deceivers and the deceived.

I was witnessing to a lady one day, as we both stood at the buffet in a popular restaurant.
As I was sharing Christ with her, a man interrupted my witnessing and asked, "Do you believe King James?
I answered by saying, "I believe King Jesus."

Here is the problem. People are so caught up in the messengers that they don't even know what the message is anymore.

My message is not, "King James" (as wonderful as it is as a translation). My message is not denominations or theological systems. My message is King Jesus and His word. As a faithful witness I must denounce other, "gospels," other "Jesus'," other "spirits," which makes it look like I am opposed to everyone.

Years ago there were some differences between Christian ministries, but today the differences have totally replaced the truth with a man-made religion. It is too bad that pastors have not held the line on God's truth.

We see how it will be in the days ahead, when Jesus stands outside of the organized church, seeking entrance. Those days are upon us and they are only going to get worse.

12/30/24 WHILE I WAS WRITING ABOUT FALSE DOCTRINE

12/30/24 WHILE I WAS WRITING ABOUT FALSE DOCTRINE

I just had a young man show up at my door, selling internet service. (I hope to update this post later). I witnessed to him about sin, separation from God, and reconciliation through Christ.

As we talked I asked him if anyone has ever shared these truths with him.

He said, "No, never."

I suspected something that eventually came up. He is a Mormon. This obviously led to further conversation, which I want to post later. But for the time being, let this sink in.

No one, in all of his encounters, before our meeting today, has ever reached out to him with the gospel.

And of course, I would have witnessed to him even if I had known he was a Mormon. I do that regularly.

But, either way, we need to be throwing out the lifeline to rescue the perishing.

AN ANSWER...
A friend asked if the Mormon received Christ...

Here is my response...
"No.

He said he would come back to talk.

I told him i want him to come back.

I told him that Mormons always tell me the same thing, but never do return.

I also told him that I have had Mormons come to my house, but after a short chat they check their notes and find out that they were told to avoid me and my parishioners on their list.

I hope he will come back.

12/30/24 CHOOSE THE GOD OF THE BIBLE

12/30/24 CHOOSE THE GOD OF THE BIBLE

When God's Divine attributes of love and sacrifice (for all men, for all sinners), God's fairness and justice (judging all men according their own free will choices), God's veracity (revealing His Own plan and nature clearly in the Bible) are presented as arguments against sinning religion's unilateral, unconditional, double-sided "election," which includes a god who deliberately and irreversibly reprobates men (including the pre-born and infants) to be condemned to eternal torment, and, that same monster god deliberately gives false (evanescent) grace, which supposedly deludes people into thinking they are saved for a period of time (only to be cast into the lake of fire, as eternally planned by a false god), because he decreed not to provide a way for them to be saved, then sinning religion followers say that we are erroneously imposing human traits and principles on God.

They excuse their god from conformity to the Divine nature and Divine revelation in Scripture by referencing a warped view of sovereignty and claiming that we, as humans cannot understand the mysterious ways of their god because he has a hidden agenda, a secret, only known to him.

Biblical revelation, concerning God's nature and works and His Divine logic (reasoning) are accurate and reliable standards we can trust, rather than the dark doctrines of errant men.

I choose the God of the Bible not the monster god who deliberately introduced and imposes sin on men, then punishes them for his own sovereign pleasure.

Divine sovereignty, wrath and judgment are Biblically revealed, but not the version presented by sinning religion. The so-called "doctrines of grace," taught by sinning religion are not gracious and they are not the gospel.

Do not follow the doctrines of demons.

12/30/24 EVERY DAY WITH JESUS

12/30/24 EVERY DAY WITH JESUS

I am usually up and working by 0 dark thirty, but this morning it was close to daybreak. While working, I noticed my view. Another day begins.

Be sure to start each day with Jesus.

12/29/24 CHOOSE GOD'S WORD, NOT MAN'S THEOLOGY

12/29/24 CHOOSE GOD'S WORD, NOT MAN'S THEOLOGY

A big part of the problem with those who follow the teachings of Calvin and Luther is that they follow Calvin and Luther, rather than Jesus, Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, Peter, Jude and the book of Hebrews. They follow a few intricately crafted thoughts, which reject a Bible full of clear and Divinely inspired revelations.

Sinning religion does not accept the whole Bible, or even the whole New Testament, or even the books between the Gospels and Revelation. In fact, they don't accept the inspired writings of Paul, Peter, James, John, Jude and the book of Hebrews as authoritative instruction for the Church. They follow the teachings (doctrines) of men rather than the revelation of God.

The Bible is clear concerning the love of God, which provides salvation for all men, on the condition of faith in Christ.
The Bible is clear concerning the fact that no one is judged by God for the sins of another person.
The Bible is clear concerning the fact that Christ saves from all sin and enables all believers to follow and obey God, to keep God's commandments, to live a holy (pure, righteous, godly) life in this present age.
The Bible is clear that God provides and enables and requires believers to have clean hands and a pure heart; to live victoriously over temptation and sin.
The Bible is clear in that salvation cleanses from sin and enables believers to obey God, do good works and please God.
The Bible clearly teaches that God saves His people from the Old Man, the Carnal Mind, the Double Mind, the Flesh, the Law of Sin and Death.

The list of truth goes on. However, sinning religion denies that Christ saves His people from their sins, and denies that He purifies a distinctive people who are zealous of good works, for which we were created in Christ Jesus.

Don't allow false teachers to rob you of the riches in Christ Jesus, found throughout the Bible and explained thoroughly in the New Testament.

12/29/24 SET, THEN FOLLOW YOUR COURSE

12/29/24 SET, THEN FOLLOW YOUR COURSE

UnBiblical actions, reactions and choices have bad consequences.
Continuing with unBiblical actions, reactions and choices extends the same bad consequences, or it results in more extreme bad consequences.
The same wrong actions, reactions and the same choices will change your future into a worse reality.

Breaking the chain is a cooperative venture with God through obedient faith.
This requires humbly and actively believing the truth, acknowledging personal failure, AND submitting to God's rule, leading, cleansing, empowering.

Pride does not accept reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness.
Pride does not accept or submit to godly counsel or Divine rule.
This is why pride leads to moral and spiritual defeat, destruction and death.

Humility leads to faith confession, repentance, forgiveness, newness of life.

Newness of life is a choice.
Newness of life replaces corruption, decay, stagnation, death.
Newness of life is no accident and it is not an independent, human accomplishment; it is the gift of God, received by faith.
Newness of life is a journey, including a beginning, a consistent walk and an ultimate destination.
Newness of life is an instantaneous, Divine transformation and it is continuing, constant and consistent faith relationship with Christ.

We choose life or we choose death.
We choose the fruit of the Spirit or we choose the works of the flesh.
We choose obedience, righteousness and submission or we choose disobedience, sin, rebellion.
We choose God's way or we choose our own way, Satan's way, the world's way, the carnal way.

Presumption never saved anyone.
We are saved by grace, through faith, as a living reality.

Acts 20:22-24
22  And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23  Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

2 Timothy 4:5-8
5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
6  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
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.

12/28/24 NOT TOO LATE

12/28/24 NOT TOO LATE

For those who have no actual knowledge of history, COMMUNISM is the avowed enemy of truth, God, freedom, Christian faith.
For those who are blind to reality, Socialism is Communism for Dummies.

The seed of oppression, Statism, Socialism, Communism, Secular Humanism has been like a putrid boil on America for over 150 years. We have been fed a massive amount of that poison over the past four years.

Thankfully, it seems that God has given us a momentary respite. Don't let the Liberal (Progressive) virtue signaling (rhetoric and propaganda) of the political left fool you. They claim to hate social ill, while they mutilate children (physically, mentally, relationally, emotionally, spiritually, socially), and as they murder the pre-born and the elderly, and dumb down the schooling system, and impose sinsanity and idocracy on the citizenry.

But a brief relief is not deliverance. Sometimes there seems to be a recovery from a sickness, and then suddenly the patient dies. Our country (or at least Americans) have a chance to get our personal, spiritual affairs in order, but be assured, the throes of death are certain.

Christ (God) is our life, and when Christ is removed, then certain death is coming.

This is not a negative post because I am encouraging folks to "look and live," to turn and not burn. Failure, sin, death is inevitable for this world, but deliverance, righteousness and life is inevitable for those who call on and follow Jesus.

NEW12/28/24 ONLY ONE REAL HOPE

12/28/24 ONLY ONE REAL HOPE

Even if the greatest financial minds in the world and the most just leaders are put into office, the USA will never recover the losses due to the thieving and greedy actions of our leaders.

What makes it worse is the fact that this wicked Administration of The Big Guy is doing all it can in its last hours of office to destroy the next Administration and the the future conservative political movement of this country.

Even if a man on a white horse comes onto the world stage as a super hero, as a savior (as we see in Revelation 6:2), we will not see the restoration or rescue of our world from the ravages of evil men.

This is why our hope is not in mortal man. Even the best that man can accomplish is doomed to failure. We do the best we can to bring about righteousness in our society, but the real need is for us to recognize and accept Christ as Lord over our own personal lives.

12/28/24 REASONABLE AND BIBLICAL

12/28/24 REASONABLE AND BIBLICAL

God does not tell us to do something, which is impossible for us to do. If it requires Divine enabling, He provides what we need.

God tells us to keep His commandments. We can obey Him. It is our choice.

12/28/24 SICK MINDS CALL BABIES, "VIPERS IN DIAPERS"

12/28/24 SICK MINDS CALL BABIES, "VIPERS IN DIAPERS"

I love people, even if they do not hold to the same Biblical truths that I do. God loved me when I did not believe what He said. But some errors are detestable beyond description.

We are all born with a corrupted condition, but not to the same excesses taught by some very popular Calvinists and Reformed teachers. In fact, some of their teaching is not only contrary to God's word, it is repugnant to anyone with basic decency.

The Bible says we all inherited a sin nature because of Adam's sin, but we did not inherit Adam's guilt. Guilt is related to personal behavior, not family relationships. The sin nature disqualifies a person from heaven.

Children are conceived and born with a sin nature. HOWEVER...God provided atonement for all children, from the time of conception until such a time as God holds them accountable for their own personal sins.
All children (until they become personally accountable for their own sins) are covered by Christ's atoning sacrifice.

This is why God's word says that He is the Savior of all men. Every child who lives to the age when they willfully sin, become accountable for their own sinful actions, and therefore will need to believe on Christ, confess their sins, repent of their sins, and follow Jesus, which is why God's word also says, "especially those who believe."
1 Timothy 4:9-11
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
11 These things command and teach.

Remember, God clearly tells us that no man is condemned because of the sins of another person, and God specifically says that fathers are not answerable for the sins of their sons, and sons are not answerable for the sins of their fathers.

Remember too, Jesus said that the little children are part of His kingdom. In fact, Jesus said that adults must become like little children in order to enter His kingdom.

Since they are born with a propensity to sin, it is not surprising that little children will knowingly choose to do evil. They do not have to be taught to lie, or become angry, or to covet someone else's belonging.

But that is only a part of the picture of a child. They are also loving, trusting, caring, compassionate, loyal, sensitive and responsive to the gospel and the call of God, and often well-intentioned, along with other admirable traits. This is because God is speaking to them as young children and He is calling them to Himself. In fact, He is drawing them to Himself. When a pre-born or an infant dies, that child goes to heaven because their inherited depravity is covered by Christ's atonement.

Even as children, after they have willfully disobeyed the law of God, they are still more open to God and concerned about moral and spiritual values than they will be after years of doubt and disobedience. With age comes accountability for our personal choices, and our own corrupted sin nature. Human depravity means that every area of our being (including our reason, desire, emotion, conscience, and will) has been corrupted and there is nothing we do, which commends us to God. It does not mean that we are unable to hear and respond to God. Our accountability is based in our ability to respond. All men are accountable for their willful choices to violate Divine law.

This is where Reformed and Calvinistic teachers promote an abominable and false doctrine. They refer to little children as "vipers in diapers," and "little monsters" and "demons." Many of those false witnesses actually teach that God specifically created them to be damned, supposedly for divine glory. I have heard some of these teachers actually say that God does not love all the little children with a saving love. I have heard parents tell their children that they did not know if God wanted to save them or not. They have said that parents ought to rejoice and give God the glory if He unilaterally and unconditionally "reprobated" those children.

These abominable lies come from their own mouths or their own writings.

It is unthinkably evil and twisted for anyone to refer to little children as "vipers in diapers," and as "little demons,"which is in bold contradiction to Jesus' statement that they belong to His kingdom.

How sick must those people be? Those thoughts are from darkness, not the Light. God loves the whole world and He desires and provides for all people (not demons) to be saved.

Read the Bible, don't follow or honor the false teachers who make such vile statements.

12/28/24 CHRIST IS OUR LIFE

12/28/24 CHRIST IS OUR LIFE

If you do not believe that God does not deliver believers from all sin in this present evil world, it is either because you believe He is unwilling, or He is unable, or He doesn't care.
(by the way, the Bible says clearly that God does cleanse faithful believers from all sin, iniquity, every spot and wrinkle, that He makes us blameless and enables us to walk in holiness).

This does not mean believers cannot or will not (necessarily) fail, err, sin, or turn from God.

Salvation is newness of life, received by faith in Christ. Life is dynamic, growing, and productive. When the faith relationship ends, the life ends.

We not only need Christ to enter into spiritual life, we need Christ continually in order to remain spiritually alive.

God never fails at doing the Divine part of salvation, and He does not fail to give us everything necessary for life and godliness. However, God does not do the things for us, which He requires us to do. God is not a puppet master and we are not computer programmed automatons.

We enter salvation by an act of faith.
We continue in salvation by a walk of faith.
We enter into His eternal presence by finishing our course by being faithful to God.

12/28/24 THE NON-CHURCH

12/28/24 THE NON-CHURCH

Deceivers are abounding, just as God's word told us it would. False saviors started to appear in the days of Christ and false doctrine was being taught in those days.

Brother Wade told me about a new, "non-church" movement. It is when secularists get together in a church setting on Sunday, and seek the peace, joy, purpose which Christians find in Christ, but the Secularists claim there is no God, no supernatural. There must not be any sin, and there is no need for salvation.

Yet, they see that church services provides something that people need. So they eliminate God, sin, salvation, and worship.

They don't call it church; instead they call it, "Sunday Assembly." It was started in London by a couple of comedians 2023.

Recently the Church Of England allowed congregations to drop the word, "church" from their name. They said the word "church" was too divisive, exclusionary.

On the other hand, there are people who use the name of Jesus and the word, "church" to promote themselves, false doctrines, or as the Bible says, "another Jesus, Spirit and Gospel." Remember, Jesus warned us about false Saviors, false teachers, and false prophets. The Bible tells us that Satan comes to us as an, "angel of light."

This is why we need strong believers, faithful proclaimers, Biblical teachers. Wolves are coming in and devouring and scattering the sheep.

God is calling, "whom shall I send, who will go for Us?"

Where are the faithful workers? The Cults and Secularists and Atheists and Agnostics and Humanists and Naturalists and Liberals have their workers of iniquity. But where are the men of God?

Not all people hear God, and some people who hear God do not obey God.

If you hear Him, then obey Him and serve Him faithfully.

12/26/24 MEDITATE ON THIS

12/26/24 MEDITATE ON THIS

If you want to be closer to the Lord and you want your life to be more pleasing to Him, consider this post.

I am convinced that few Christians know how to meditate (focus on God and His word, commune with God), and there are few who actually meditate (aka "muse").

Meditation is essential to effectual prayer and productive Bible study, which are required for spiritual growth. Meditation is an interaction with God.

The Hebrew word is an onomatopoetic word. In other words, it is a word that imitates the sound associated with the action or event, such as, "thud," or "hiss." To meditate is more than having a mental interest in something. To meditate or muse is to grapple with, to focus on something or someone. Groaning, moaning, sighing, growling or mourning (whether outwardly or inwardly) is related to musing or meditating, as in, "hmmm," or "mmmmm". 

Psalm 1:1-2 KJV
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

Psalm 5:1-2 KJV
1 To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 

Psalm 19:14 KJV
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. 

Psalm 39:3 KJV
3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, 

Psalm 49:3 KJV
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. 

Psalm 63:5-6 KJV
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. 

Psalm 77:10-12 KJV
10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. 

Psalm 104:33-34 KJV
33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. 

Psalm 119:14-16 KJV
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. 

Psalm 119:22-24 KJV
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors. 

Psalm 119:47-48 KJV
47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. 

Psalm 119:97-104 KJV
97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 

Psalm 143:5-6 KJV
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. 

1Timothy 4:13-16 KJV
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

12/26/24 PAYING TO BE UNSAFE

12/26/24 PAYING TO BE UNSAFE

Though I was was not politically inclined or politically astute in 1977, I was amazed at the idiocy of President Jimmy Carter, when he gave away the control of the Panama Canal. I thought it was lunacy, but it was either intended to be intrigue or it became intrigue over time.

I was happy to hear that Trump wanted to regain control of the Canal. Because of News reports, I thought his motivation was because of the unfair cost imposed on the US, which was a legitimate principle. However it was, and is much more than $$$. It is the fact that China is taking more and more control of the Canal. It is definitely a US (and worldwide) security issue.

But how many, as POTUS, have known about this actual and present danger (Clinton, Bush, Bush, Obama, Biden)? Maybe part of the Big Guy in China was a distraction from China on our doorstep.

I also realized the importance of Greenland to the security of the US, and the rest of the world, during Trump's first Administration, and I see the importance of having control of Greenland.

FACE IT, some nation will control these two doorways. At the present time it is better for the US to be in control than anti-god Communism or Socialism or some other mad-man led government.

AND YES. I realize that a mad-man can come in Red, White and Blue. This is why I encourage people to do the best they can, while they can, which is make Jesus the only Lord of your life. While we are in this world of chaos we should do what we can to help others. Selling out to the Commies and anti-Bible governments is not good for US or the rest of the world.

The peoples of the world, the grass root societies of the nations, want a strong America, a conservative America. We have been and still are the greatest country that ever existed on this planet.

Our greatness is tied to our acceptance of Divine principles and truths (which is not the same as saying that America is Christian). We are losing our greatness and one day we will not even be a player in the closing events of this present age.

This post is observation, rant, encouragement, rebuke, clarion cry, but mostly a wake up call for sinners to come to Jesus, and for Christians to follow Christ fully.

12/25/24 HIJACKING THE TRUTH

12/25/24 HIJACKING THE TRUTH

Through the years I have noticed that one of the great "advantages " of leaving our message and ministry is the "freedom" to paganize the holy celebrations of Christianity, such as the Incarnation and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

When children and the Christ-less masses of the world think of elves and fertility images (rabbits and eggs), before they think of Christ, then you know that demonic forces have hijacked the message and ministry of salvation.

Shame on those who know better, but corrupt the redemption story, and reduce Divine revelation to pagan indoctrination.

12/25/24 SIMPLY STATED, THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS

12/25/24 SIMPLY STATED, THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS

Reconciliation with God through faith in the atoning death and physical resurrection is evidenced by love, truth and righteousness.

This is the Christmas message.

12/20/24 FAITH MATTERS

12/20/24 FAITH MATTERS
(not to be confused with cheap and easy believism).

If you are trusting, you are obeying.
If you are not obeying, you are not trusting.
Trusting is faith in action.

The just (those made righteous by salvation) shall live by faith.
To live by faith is to walk by faith (trusting), which is to act by faith (trusting), or to behave by faith (trusting).
That which is not of faith is sin.

We are saved by grace through faith.
We are kept through faith.
We overcome sin, the world and the devil through faith.

Without faith it is impossible to please God.
By faith (obedient, active trust [aka trusting]) we keep God's commands and do that which is pleasing in God's sight.

12/16/24 CHOOSE YOUR WORDS CAREFULLY

12/16/24 CHOOSE YOUR WORDS CAREFULLY

Words matter. Words are the vehicles that convey our thoughts.

Jesus is God's Word, Who became flesh and conveyed the loving, gracious, kind, merciful, selfless thoughts of God.

The ability to communicate through speech is a Divine trait, which sets us apart from all other earthly creatures. Sadly, few people, including Christians deliberately and consistently use their power of speech to enrich, encourage, uplift, edify other people. I am not talking about surreptitiously manipulating people through deceptive words. I am talking about thinking and doing that which is beneficial through sincere conversation, honest and helpful communication. Speech is an outward expression of our inward being. The way we talk to people and the things we say are verbal deeds.

We need to think about what we say and how we say it. We need to speak truth, which requires a sincere heart; and we need to speak truth in love, which puts others first.

It takes thought, work, patience, practice, discipline to say the right words in the right way.

Obviously, there are times we must say things that are confrontational, authoritative, and they may seem hard and even harsh, but in those times we should still speak the truth in love.

Mostly I am referring to daily interaction. Our words will either build relationships or tear them down; either build up a person or tear him down. Sometimes people need to hear things they don't like, and sometimes, not always, it is our responsibility to lovingly confront someone.

Love does not ignore the danger of an evil person. We can love even our enemies, but Christian love does not give approval or encouragement to evil behavior.

We need to make certain that our words do not contribute to another person's weakness, suffering, confusion, failure, or moving away from God. Remember, we are not only expected to avoid evil, we are to avoid the appearance of evil.

Our words should shed light, give hope, communicate love, impart power, build relationships, enable godly living.

It takes dedication and work to be a messenger of love and truth. Regardless of our personality type, our cultural background, our family and upbringing, we, as God's children are to draw others to the truth and build them up in the faith.

12/15/24 CONSPIRACY, FACT NOT FICTION

12/15/24 CONSPIRACY, FACT NOT FICTION

It is not a conspiracy theory if it is an actual conspiracy. This present Administration is a total conspiracy against truth, sanity, freedom, justice, Christianity.

Along with other cover-ups, I expect them to put some patsies on the chopping block (you have heard of J6, right?), to cover up their evil deeds concerning the drone debacle.

12/14/24 RE-POST: "NOT THIS ONE"

12/14/24 RE-POST: "NOT THIS ONE"

This is a re-post of one of my post from October of this year. As I was working on my blog, I thought this would be good to share again. I think this is very telling. Not once are we told that Christians are unable to resist temptation. 

10/21/24 NOT THIS ONE
All of these are verses in the KJV New Testament with the word tempt, tempted, tempting or temptation.
Which of these verses says that believers cannot resist temptation?
I included all of the verses, even the verses, which do not relate to human temptation because I did not want anyone to think that I had deliberately, "cherry picked," verses to prove my point.

Not all of these verses apply to human temptation. Some refer to Christ being tempted, and some refer to man tempting (testing) God (Father or Son or Holy Spirit). This does not change the point of this post.

Sometimes the word used might better be translated, "trial," but this does not change the point of this post. The question is, "which of these verses says that believers cannot resist temptation?"

I put different letters (parenthesized) in front of the verses, indicating different uses of the words.
(G) for God (the Father).
(J) for Jesus (the Son).
(GS) for God's Spirit (the Holy Spirit).
Sometimes these Divine designations include more than One Person of the Triune God.
(B) for Believers: sometimes referring to O.T. Believers.

The word is used in various ways. Tempted can mean, "tested" or "tried," or it can mean, "allured" and "attracted" to evil.
God cannot be allured or attracted to evil.
Believers can be tested, tried or allured and attracted to evil.
But in no case do we find a verse, which says that believers cannot resist temptation.

(J) Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(G) Matthew 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Matthew 16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Matthew 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Matthew 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Matthew 22:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Mark 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Mark 8:11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Mark 10:2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Mark 12:15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) Mark 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Luke 4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Luke 4:12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Luke 11:16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Luke 20:23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) Luke 22:40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) Luke 22:46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) John 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(GS) Acts 5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(G) Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) 1 Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) 1 Corinthians 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) Galatians 4:14 And my temptation (trial) which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) 1 Thessalonians 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) 1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J/B) Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) Hebrews 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(G) Hebrews 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(J) Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) Hebrews 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE 

(B) James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE

(B) James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE

(B) James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE

(B) Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
DLG Note... NOT THIS ONE
I have gone through every verse, and NOT ONE OF THEM says that believers cannot resist temptation.

If you find a verse in this list that clearly says that believers cannot resist temptation, please let me know.

I am not asking for other verses at this time (though I am confident that no verse in the Bible says, "believers cannot resist temptation." I don't mind looking at other passages, but this post is focused on the verses in the KJV (though other translations say the same thing, they do not always use the same wording).
I intend to use this list (or a portion of this list) in other posts, addressing related issues. Be sure to read those as well.

And finally, there is a verse that actually says that believers can resist all temptation.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

12/14/24 THE REAL NEED OF THE HOUR

12/14/24 THE REAL NEED OF THE HOUR

Do we really need a Christian superstar in sports, entertainment, academics, business, government, law, law enforcement, medicine, labor force, social services? Those are valid pursuits for Christians, but none of these are the great need of the day. The real need is men of God committed to the work of God, whatever the cost.

We need God called, Spirit born and anointed and led, Bible believing and trained, Christ following pastor/teachers, who are totally dedicated to evangelizing the lost and edifying the believer.
We need them now.
We need them preparing now.
We need them to be learning as they are doing the will of God now.
We need them hungering and thirsting for righteousness now.
We need them charging the gates of hell now. We need them reaching the lost now.

12/13/24 AN ASSIGNMENT12/13/24 AN ABSURDITY

12/13/24 AN ABSURDITY

Repeating myself from eight months ago.

"04/15/24 YES, IT IS ABSURD
How pitiful would it be for a child of a millionaire to starve to death, while living in the parent's home, having access to food and care!
How sad would it be for a child of a highly competent doctor to die of some minor physical ailment because the child did not seek or accept simple medical treatment!

I am sorry. These questions are silly.
What is wrong with me?
Please don't answer this question."
But if you see a spiritually destitute child of a Christ follower, tell them their earthly father is looking down the road, praying for their return.

12/12/24 BEWARE THE SUBTLE SEPARATION

12/12/24 BEWARE THE SUBTLE SEPARATION

Same example, new application.

Years ago I watched as the car in front of me pulled onto a highway, into the path of an eighteen wheeler, which traveling over 50 mph.
The devastating collision was inevitable. 

The vehicle was probably knocked 300 feet away. The driver was literally knocked out of his shoes.

God heard our prayer and spared the man's life.

So many times I see people either drift into the path of sin or deliberately move into the path of destruction.

I watch.

I cry out.

I throw the lifeline.

I sacrifice to save them, but they continue in their rebellion.

In some situations I have watched for decades, as they become more entrenched and as they entangle others in a life of spiritual futility.

I pray.

I witness.

I cry.

I ache.

One day the praying will end, the witnessing will stop, the final tears will fall, the end will be decided forever.

This happens with people who are totally convinced that they are Christians, but God will say the words which will ring in their ears forever, "Depart from me you worker of iniquity, I never knew you."

12/11/24 ADVANCED IN INIQUITY

12/11/24 ADVANCED IN INIQUITY

All narcissists are born (they are not hatched).
No one is born as a narcissist.

We are all conceived with and born with a tendency to exaggerated self esteem (pride) and other carnal attitudes, such as anger, hatred deceit, greed, and lust because of Adam's sin.

Though this tendency (sinful nature) pollutes (corrupts) our human condition and makes us unfit to live in God's presence, God, through love, kindness, and mercy, unilaterally and unconditionally covers pre-born and newborn and infant children through the atonement of Christ until they (at a later age) choose to willfully do that which they know to be evil, and become accountable for their own actions. This is why the Bible says Jesus is "the Savior of all men, especially those who believe."
Once a person knowingly and willfully rebels against the rule of God, that person needs to knowingly and willfully receive Divine mercy and salvation.

As a person continues in sin, he moves further into sin and further away from God. Sins of the spirit can and will become sins of the flesh, and the obnoxious sins can become abominations.

All sin is repugnant and damnable, but sins become darker and more evident over time. Pride can become narcissism, hatred can become physical violence and murder, covetousness can become stealing, deceit can become lying, lust (uncontrolled sexual desire) can become illicit sexual activity and deviance.

Sin leads to sin, darkness leads to darkness, decay leads to decay. When God offers miraculous deliverance from sin, through faith, repentance, confession, and following Christ, a person needs to turn from sin and turn to God immediately and completely.

We either will walk in truth or walk in a lie, walk in light or walk in darkness, walk in the Spirit or walk in the flesh.

The tiny acorn becomes the mighty oak.
The Christ-less child becomes the immoral monster.

Early salvation and faithfully following Christ is the plan of God for children.
Obedient faith goes from grace to grace, faith to faith, light to light. Walking in Christ's steps begins and continues as an ongoing life of faith. The Bible tells us that the justified live by faith.

It is important to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith and to make our calling and election certain.

12/09/24 GOD'S AUTHORIZED AUTHORITY

12/09/24 GOD'S AUTHORIZED AUTHORITY

This should not even need to be said, but so many people have been misled into rejecting God's order of leadership for family and church that it must be said.

There is truth in the statement, "don't follow men, follow Christ."
However, there is also a Biblical sense in which we should follow some men. Paul told us to follow him, as he followed the Lord. This should be true for all faithful followers of Christ, as long as they are living consistently with Biblical standards.

We can follow the example of dedicated believers and we can follow the teaching of Biblically sound people, but God's designated leadership for family and local church is given to men, not women. There are various qualifications for men who are called to lead churches, but the first qualification is that of being a man.

Sometimes there is no man in a family, or the man in the family is incapacitated. A woman must take the role of leadership with humility. 

Men should be leading and teaching males and females in the local church and the family.
God has a plan for males and females in family relationships and for males and females in local church relationships. There is no difference concerning salvation, but leadership is a different issue.

Sadly, men have often failed to follow Christ as they should, and they have failed to seek God as they should, and they have failed to lead in spiritual issues of life, but this does not change the Divine order found in Scripture. In the family, men ought to love and honor their wives, and wives ought to love and submit to their husbands.

There are enough problems in the "Bible teaching" settings in America without adding the problem of women usurping the position of spiritual leadership.
Yes, I know that females are often more sensitive to God's leading than some men and I know that they are often more concerned with heart and relationship issues than some men. That does not remove the responsibility of men seeking and following God with their whole hearts and it does not give the responsibility of spiritual leadership to women.

Beware of "ministries," which are led by females. Beware of men who surrender family leadership and church leadership into the hands of women.
It is not natural for men to be led by women and it is not spiritually normal for men to be led by women, and more importantly, it is not Biblical.

12/09/24 DON'T MUDDY THE MESSAGE

12/09/24 DON'T MUDDY THE MESSAGE

If you know the truth about the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, then you do not celebrate with Santa, "Easter" (Ishtar), eggs, or rabbits. If you have demeaned the message of Christ with pagan imagery, come on back to the truth.

12/07/24 A QUICK OVERVIEW

12/07/24 A QUICK OVERVIEW

Maybe this will help someone.

The Bible provides the Divine narrative addressing the answer to man's sin problem. If we don't understand God's revelation, we will believe satan's false explanation.

Adam and Eve were created with human nature (body [physical consciousness, i.e., seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching]), (soul [self consciousness, i.e. reason, desire, emotion, conscience, will]), (spirit [God consciousness]), and without sin or sinful nature. They were created with free will, the ability to obey or disobey God. This was a flawless act of God. God was pleased with His creation.

At some point, through disobedience, Adam sinned and subjected human nature to frailty, infirmity, weakness, sickness, and death, and also brought moral corruption (the sinful nature) into the human family. All of Adam's descendants inherit the sinful nature and are therefore unqualified (from the time of conception) to spend eternity with God, if not for the gracious PROVISION of God. This is why the virgin birth of Christ is essential to our salvation. Christ was human (because He was born of woman), with earthly limitations, but, because He was not conceived by a man, He did not have the sinful nature, since He was God in the flesh. This allowed Christ to become the perfect sin sacrifice.

God (unconditionally and unilaterally) provided atonement for all of the children of Adam, available through faith in Christ. This PROVISION covered the sinful nature of pre born, newborn, and infant children and the reconciliation of anyone who believes on Christ's atoning death and physical resurrection. Thus, the Bible consistently and correctly says that God does not hold children accountable for the sins of their fathers, but only for their own sins. Therefore, He is the Savior of all men, and especially those who believe.

It is evidenced by human DNA that some human traits are passed through the paternal parent rather than the maternal parent. Therefore, Jesus did have human nature (being born into the human family), but He did not have the sinful nature (being conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Humans are corrupted by Adam's sin, for which we need cleansing, but we are only guilty for personal disobedience. This is why salvation includes forgiveness and cleansing for our sinful actions (the fruit of rebellion) and purification, deliverance of our corrupted heart (the root of our rebellion).

God deals with the root and the fruit of our sin and gives us victory and deliverance from all sin through Christ in this present life.