The Christian Calling
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24)
"He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) Contents
Why You Don't Have to Be Afraid to Share Your Faith
Servants of Christ: Laborers & Cost of Discipleship
Representatives & Ambassadors of the King of Kings
Do Not Become Weary in Well-Doing
"If My
people" & "Pray without ceasing"
See Also
Jesus is Coming Back:
Should You Be Afraid? | Greg
Laurie
The Christian calling is not just John 3:16, but what Jesus said
in the same breath through verse 21. (John 3:16-21
)
We've been given "the whole armor of God" to be successful.
The Great Commission: Our marching orders. It is a command, not a suggestion. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
"Jesus never told us to go into all the world and preach the gospel of salvation. He said to preach the gospel of the Kingdom. (Luke 4:43, John 20:21) ...There's a difference between getting to heaven and heaven getting into us (John 1:13, 3:5-7). The gospel of salvation is getting to heaven; the gospel of the Kingdom is allowing heaven to get into us!" (Luke 17:20-21) --Todd White
Jesus says to Christians, "You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14-15) Not you can be. You are. And not whenever you feel like it. "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38)
"I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe." --Smith Wigglesworth
We are to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) to all (Mark 16:15), family, neighbors, and strangers, acknowledging that everyone of us have "sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), yet "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Ezekiel 3:18-21 - Yet if you warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.
Matthew 9:35-38 - And Y'shua was going around all the cities and the villages teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness. And when He saw the crowds He was sympathetic concerning them, because they were weary and laying down like sheep that did not have a shepherd. (Numbers 27:17) Then He said to His disciples, "On one hand the harvest is great, but on the other hand the workers are few: so you all must immediately appeal to the Lord of the Harvest so that He would send out workers into His harvest." (Revelation 14:15)
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 - I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow: so it is not the one who plants and it is not the one who waters who is anything, but God is the One Who causes growth. The one who plants and also the one who waters are equal, and each will take his own reward according to his own toil: for we are fellow workers of God, you are cultivated fields of God, a building of God.
Philippians 2:12-16 - Therefore, my beloved, as you 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; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah. "Do you understand what you are reading?" "Why, how can I," replied the eunuch, "unless some one explains it to me?" (Acts 8:26-40)
See also: Following Jesus & Christian, Is Your Light on?
Why You Don't Have to Be Afraid to Share Your Faith "Peace be with you: just as the Father sent Me, so I am sending you."
Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and of a good courage. Fear not, nor be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, it is He who goes with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you.
"Salt of the earth" & "Light of the world" --Matthew 5:13,16
Luke 4:43 - I must preach the Kingdom of God to other cities also, for this is why I was sent.
John 6:38 - For I have come
down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
John 20:21 -
Y'shua said to them again "Peace be with you: just as the Father sent Me, so
I am sending you."
Luke 14:28 - For which of you,
intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he
have sufficient to finish it?
Matthew 24:4-14 - And Y’shua said to them, “See that
no one would lead you astray: for many will come in My name saying, ‘I am the
Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. And you will be going to hear of wars and
reports of wars: see that you are not frightened: for it is necessary to happen,
but it is not yet the end. For heathen will rise against heathen and kingdom
against kingdom and there will be famines and earthquakes in various regions:
and all these things are the beginning of labor in birthing. Then they will give
you over to affliction and they will kill you, and you will be hated by all the
heathens because of My name. And then many will be caused to fall away and they
will give over others and they will hate others: and many false prophets will be
raised and they will lead many astray: and because of the increase of
lawlessness the love of many will grow cold. But the one who remains to the end,
this one will be saved. Then this Good News of the kingdom will be proclaimed in
the whole inhabited world in witness to all the heathens, and then the end will
come.”
1 Corinthians 15:56-58 - The sting of death is sin, and the strength of
sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the
Lord.
John 14:17 -
1 Corinthians 3:16 - Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the
Spirit of God dwells in you?
2 Corinthians 6:16 - And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?
For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them
And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
((Leviticus 26:12, Jeremiah 32:38, Ezekiel 37:27)
2 Timothy 2:14-15 - You must continually recall to mind these things being
charged before God, not to dispute about words, which does nothing beneficial,
but is to the ruin of the listeners. You must now be diligent to present
yourself approved to God, a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, teaching the
doctrine of the Truth correctly and directly.
Neutrality Is Killing America and Pacifying the Woke Church - By Bert Farias
- ...What if I were to tell you that the recent polarization and division the
last two elections and the recent pandemic brought in America, especially in the
Western church, were of God? ...but we must also understand that division is
necessary before true unity can come. ...First of all, Jesus Himself brought
division, which he described as a sword, when He arrived on the earth: "Do not
think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace,
but a sword" (Matt. 10:34, MEV). ..."But, of course, there must be divisions
among you so that you who have God's approval will be recognized!" (1 Cor. 11:19, NLT). ...You see, in one sense, a sword that brings division is
really God's way of measuring true success, and a way of recognizing those who
have God's approval. For the last two or so decades, the American church has
been in a soft ,superficial place of silence and neutrality because we don't
want to offend people. But Jesus, who came with a sword, is called the "rock of
offense" (Rom. 9:33, 1 Pet. 2:8).What will you do with that? ...The neutral church says to use wisdom and
not offend others. Meanwhile, much of the American church, infected by a grossly
immoral and worldly antichrist culture that continues defacing the image of God
and changing the gender of our children or killing them in the womb, continues
to yawn in a sleepy state at God's will and intentions. God, have mercy on us!
...Satan loves to package evil in a beautiful
cosmetic way so society and the church can swallow it. For example, abortion is
called "family planning'; gay marriage is called "love" and symbolized by a
colorful rainbow. ... Did you know that three transgenders, really witches, run
BLM? And much of the church swallowed the movement hook, line and sinker. ...Satan knows if he can weaken the Western
church through complacency and compromise, he can dethrone America's place on
the world stage and affect the entire world. We are ruining the future of
America's and the nations' children with our neutrality, our silence and our
apathy. Yet there is an underground church in America that is rising.
The Real Reason Jesus Sent the Holy Spirit
- By
- Samuel Rodriguez - Acts 2:14 says, "Then Peter stood up with the Eleven,
raised his voice and addressed the crowd:" This passage represents a lot
more than the normative description regarding the occurrences of that blessed
day. ...It was the same Peter that hid from the crowd in denial of Jesus.
... Saints, listen carefully. Today's complacency is tomorrow's
captivity. There is no such thing as comfortable Christianity. Let me be clear
today. The Spirit did not come so we could stay seated. The Spirit did not
come so we can be complacent. The Spirit did not come down so we can sing
"Kumbaya." The Holy Spirit came down so we can get up. He came down so we
can go from ... Natural existence to supernatural living; from "I am OK" to "I
am more than a conqueror"; from surviving to thriving; from making excuses to
making history ...
...We are here filled
not with emotion, constructs or religious paradigms, but with the Holy Spirit of
God. Guess what the church guess will do next? Stand up! Why? It's because we
are not just any people. We are not Google, we are not Apple, we are not Ford,
we are not even Starbucks. We are the church of Jesus Christ. We are the
bride. We are a Spirit-empowered ekklesia. And the gates of hell shall not,
cannot, will not and may not prevail against us! ...There is no such thing
as silent Christianity. There is no such thing as Christianity on mute. There is
no such thing as a silent Pentecostal. A silent Pentecostal is an oxymoron on
steroids.
Charles G. Finney: "Decay of Conscience" (December 4, 1873)
-
Our "calling," is to be Representatives of the King,
Ambassadors for Christ, aware of the cost,
knowing that it entails
Judging and Reproof, as well as "avoiding foolish questions, and
genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are
unprofitable and vain.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 - Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for
what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has
light with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Belial? or what part has
he that believes with an infidel? And what agreement has the temple of God with
idols? for you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell
in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you,
and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Do Your Part in the Culture War
- By Dr. Ray Rooney Jr. - ...Jesus said it was the lukewarm Christian (paralyzed
with apathy or indecision) who makes Him sick (Revelation 3:16). One of the
worst trends gripping the world in general and our nation, in particular, is the
unwillingness to think for oneself. To make decisions and take responsibility
for them. Instead, people are waiting to be told what to do. Who to vote for.
What to believe. What to think. When to turn. The only people who seem to be
taking decisive action(s) are those who want to destroy America. The rest are
waiting on a social media post telling them that "God's got this." Then they are excused from engagement and action.
This is tremendously disturbing. How does it serve the best interests of the
kingdom of God to:
Just ignore all the bad news taking place in our
country and the world and/or
Stand around waiting for someone else to tell you what
to do when you already know what to do?
If you are an informed Christian and you really are concerned about the
direction our nation is being driven by progressives, socialists, and proudly
immoral people and want to know how to make a difference allow me to suggest
four decisions you can make that will allow you to do your share in stemming the
growing darkness and actually win the culture war.
Ron Helle: Silence Is Golden
... God gives strong
support to those who incline their heart to be a warrior for King Jesus. ...If
COVID taught Christians anything, it was the contempt that the world has for us.
Look at the measures employed against so many churches by government agencies.
Churches were deemed "nonessential," thus implying that we were to refrain from
assembling together until further notice. Many churches became embroiled in
legal battles with local governments for defying mask mandates or other imposed
restrictions. Some are still fighting legal battles for violating mandates that
"the science" has since shown were ineffective.
...We weren't very far into
COVID when, to quote the song, "my eyes still see." Churches were ordered
shuttered, but casinos and big box stores could stay open. We could not gather
together, but if you wanted to form a mob, riot, burn some buildings, and attack
police in a "mostly peaceful" demonstration, that was considered "healthy" (not
so much for the people injured or killed or the businesses destroyed).
Conspiracy theories abounded, many of which have, in the intervening years,
proven to be true. Let me enlighten you on a "conspiracy theory" of mine.
Christians need to understand
that the adversary of our soul has been at war with us since Day One. From the
Day of Pentecost until this very day, he has sought to silence the message of
hope and deliverance that only we can bring. In Acts 4, the members of the
Sanhedrin threatened Peter and John, telling them "not to speak or teach at all
in the name of Jesus" (Acts 4:18). They went back to their friends and
prayed and asked God to enable them to continue to speak His word with boldness
(Acts4:29).
God answered. "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered
together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued
to speak the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31, ESV). Nothing has changed in
the past 2,000 years. Jesus warned His disciples that this was coming. "If the
world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18).
...God
would not tell us to "resist" (a popular word among progressives these days) if
He hadn't given us the weapons to do so. "For the eyes of the Lord run to and
fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is
blameless toward Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9). God gives strong support to those who
incline their heart to be a warrior for King Jesus. Let's pray first, and then
go preach! We will not be silenced! What say ye, Man of Valor?
Matthew 5:43-48 -
Matthew 10:14-42 -
For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks
in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father
the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them
to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he
that endures to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this
city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone
over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. The disciple is not
above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple
that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the
master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his
household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not
be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear
in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the
body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to
destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?
and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very
hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value
than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me
before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send
peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father,
and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother
in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loves
father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that takes not his cross, and
follows after me, is not worthy of me. He that finds his life shall lose it: and
he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.
He that receives you receives me, and he that receives me receives him
that sent me. He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive
a prophet's reward; and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a
righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give
to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a
disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
A man that is an heretick after the first and second
admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sins, being
condemned of himself." --Titus 3:9-11
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be you therefore wise
as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Pride on the Battlefield - By Ed Vitagliano - ...How often do we go about
the Christian walk without prayer or Bible reading? Without asking God for His
counsel? Or without waiting upon Him for the answer? How else should we
interpret such spiritual neglect if not calling it pride? Pride says I can get
through the day without prayer. Pride says I don't need the word of God today.
Pride says I can do this or that without asking God for divine wisdom. Pride
says I will act without waiting for God's OK.
"Battle stations, battle stations! All hands man your battle stations! This
is NOT a drill. I say again, this is NOT a drill!"
Battle Stations! - By Ron Helle - ...Paul told the Corinthian believers to
be alert to the actions of the enemy, "so that we would not be outwitted by
Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs" (2 Corinthians 2:11, ESV). The
word translated "designs" is the Greek word noema, which means "that which is
thought out, a purpose" (Vine's Dictionary). Sadly, the Church in America is
ignorant of Satan's modus operandi (methods), which has resulted in the
declining influence of Christianity in America.
...Militarily, we have been engaged in guerrilla warfare in every subsequent
engagement (think Iraq and Afghanistan) since Vietnam. The battle is for the
hearts and minds of the populace, not the taking of terrain. The way you treat
people will determine how they will respond. The tactics of the enemy are fear,
intimidation, and brutality. Satan is waging guerrilla warfare against the
Church, and Christians have not responded well. In a guerrilla war, there are
two opposing sides with the population caught in the middle; they, for the most
part, want both sides to leave them alone. How they are treated will determine
which side they will support. If the good guys mistreat them, they will either
be apathetic toward them or actively be used by the enemy against them. The
Church in America has been treating lost people as the enemy, resulting in a
massive army that Satan is now using against us. If you doubt that, you need to
start paying attention.
...So, what is a guy (or gal) supposed to do? It's time to suit up! We need
to heed Paul's admonition and not be ignorant of how the enemy operates. To do
this, we need to appropriate the weapons that God has given us.
"Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having
fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of
righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by
the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with
which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that
end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints."
--Ephesians 6:13-18
2 Timothy 3:13-17 - But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast
learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And
that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make
thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 4:1-4 - I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach
the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the
truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Matthew 5:11 - Blessed are you when they would revile you and they would
persecute you and they would say all manner of evil against you falsely because
of Me. You must continually rejoice and be extremely joyful, because your
reward is great in the heavens: for in this way they persecuted the prophets,
the ones who were before you. (2 Chronicles 36:16)
John 15:18-25 - If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it
hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own: but because
you are not of the world, but I chose you from the world, the world hates you
because of this. You must continually remember the message, which I spoke to
you, "A servant is not greater than his master." If they persecuted Me, then
they will persecute you: if they kept My word, then they will keep yours. But
they will do all these things to you because of My name, because they have not
known the One Who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not
have sinned: but now they do not have an excuse concerning their sin. The one
who hates Me also hates My Father. If I did not do works among them which no one
else had done, they would not have sinned: but now they also have seen and they
have also hated both Me and My Father. But so that the statement would be
fulfilled which has been written in their Torah (Teaching) that
"They hated Me
without reason." (Ps. 35:19; 69:5)
Acts 5:39-42 - ...and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they
commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And
they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted
worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every
house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Roman Empire Persecutions "Early Christians ... carried into the Coliseum to
make a spectacle for those more savage than the beasts - ...Eleven of the twelve
apostles were martyred, with the 12th, John, being reportedly thrown into a
boiling pot of oil, but miraculously survived. --William Jennings Bryan -
American Minute with Bill Federer
o Peter preached in Rome and was crucified upside down c.66
AD;
Do not
become weary in well-doing
2 Thessalonians 3:13 - But you, brothers, do not become weary doing what is
right.
Isaiah 6:9 - Go! Tell this people, You do hear, but do not understand! You do
see, but do not perceive! Make the heart of this people fat and make their ears
heavy, and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their
ears, and understand with their heart, and repent, and be healed.
Hebrews 12:1-3 - We also, therefore, since we have so great a host of witnesses
surrounding us, after we have put off every weight and the easily distracting
sin, would ourselves, patiently steadfast, run the race that is set before us
fixing our eyes on the Author and Finisher of the Faith, Y'shua, Who, to obtain
the joy set before Him, endured the cross, having despised the shame of it He
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For you must now consider the
One Who endured such hostility as this toward Himself by the sinners, so that
you would not be weary, losing heart in your inmost beings.
When You Just Want to Quit - By Dr. Ray Rooney, Jr. - Everything in life
seems difficult. It's hard to make a living. It's hard to keep a marriage
together. It's hard to raise children (the right way). It's hard to get along
with people. It's hard to watch our country being driven into third-world status
(the war against free speech is what you usually see in banana republics). It's
hard to stomach the moral cesspool our culture has become (as when violence and
mayhem committed by one group of people are called "peaceful protests' while the
same thing committed by another group of people is called a "riot" and
"insurrection."
It's hard. It's hard because there never seems to be any end in
sight. Our government isn't going to suddenly find Jesus, repent of its sins,
and restore the biblical definition of marriage, end legalized abortion, wage
war against pornography, end the debt cycle, protect our borders, end
entitlements, or ever return to bipartisanship. And many church leaders aren't
going to restore the holiness of God to the same level as His love allowing
their pastors to start preaching about the issues that are tearing this world
and our nation apart or actually start telling people that Jesus is the only way
to receive eternal life.
And keep this in mind: none of the apostles died peacefully in their
beds with their families gathered around. Life is hard. Those who tell you
otherwise are either lying, misinformed, or sheltered. What really makes it
hard, though, are not the difficulties or trials themselves. It's the wistful
notion that they shouldn't be happening to us at all. If I think I am entitled
to prosperity, health, and success in everything I put my hand to, I am deceived.
In the world you will have tribulation, (John 16:33)
Do not think that
I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a
sword (Matthew 10:34). Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it
comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you (1 Peter 4:12).
Everything about the way the world is and the way things are going in
America makes me want to throw up my hands in disgust, withdraw, and wait like
Jonah for the fireworks show to begin. I'm tired of there being one set of laws
for the majority of Americans and another set of laws for politicians. I'm tired
of seeing political and religious leaders thumb their noses at God and seemingly
get away with it. I'm tired of seeing the nation the Founders envisioned be
turned into a lawless moral cesspool barreling towards socialism. I'm tired of
the hypocrisy that is no longer implicit in the shadows but on full and
prominent display in every venue of life.
But guess what? I won't quit. I won't pack my bags and walk off into
the dusk leaving faith and hope behind. Every day is a new day and with it comes
hope. I will slog on through the muck and mire of apparent worldly indifference
or defeat "looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and
builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10).
...My job in life is not to defeat Goliath. ...Our job is not to
return America to her former glory. Our job until we meet our Creator face to
face is this: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker
who has no need to be ashamed...(2 Timothy 2:15) ...and having done all, to
stand firm (Ephesians 6:13).
Matthew 16:24-28 - Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will
lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall
gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father
with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of
death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Luke 18:28-30 - Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he
said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that
hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom
of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in
the world to come life everlasting.
Galatians 3:26-29 - You are all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as
many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is
neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, and there is neither
male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you are Christ's, then
you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise.
Faith vs. fear and doubt. "So, because you are
lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
(Revelation 3:16).
Revelation 3:16-19 - Because you are lukewarm in this way and neither hot nor cold, I am
going to spew you out of my mouth. Because you say "I am rich and I have become
wealthy8 (Hosea 12:8) and I do not need anything," but you do not know that you
are the wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I am advising you
to buy gold from Me which has been burned by fire so that you would be rich, and
so that you would be clothed in white garments and the disgrace of your
nakedness would not be revealed, and to rub in an ointment on your eyes so that
you could see. Whom I love I do correct and I discipline: (Proverbs 3:12)
therefore you must be earnest and you must now repent.
"If My People" &
"Pray without ceasing"
Daniel 9:17 - Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his
supplications, and for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your
sanctuary, which is desolate.
Psalm 9:1 - I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all
Your marvelous works.
Psalm 102:1 - Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my cry come to You.
Lord's Prayer Fasting - Lay up treasures
in Heaven
God does not
call the equipped; He equips the called. Sharing Your Faith 101 Biblical
guidance and resources for telling someone about Jesus.
1 Peter 3:13-17 - And who is the one who will harm you if you would be eager for
moral goodness? But even if you might suffer because of righteousness, you are
blessed. And you should not be afraid of them and you should not let yourselves
be intimidated, but you must now hold our Lord the Messiah in reverence in your
hearts, always prepared with a reply for everyone who questions your report
about the hope within you, but with gentleness and respect, because you have a
clear conscience, so that while you are being spoken evil of, those who revile
you would be put to shame by your good Way of life in Messiah. It is better to
suffer for doing good, if he might want the will of God, rather than for doing
wrong.
We've
been given "the whole armor of God" to be successful. What say ye, Man of Valor?
- By Ron Helle - ...There are times when we Christians go into "static display"
mode. We look good, but we don't engage the enemy. The Apostle John addressed
this head-on: "I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from
the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the
evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you,
fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young
men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have
overcome the evil one" (I John 2:13-14, ESV).
Overcoming the "evil one" is prominently featured here.
Paul tells us that "the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have
divine power to destroy strongholds" (II Corinthians 10:4).
In Ephesians, Paul gives us greater insight: "Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor
of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we
do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (6:10-12).
When I went to Vietnam, they didn't just dump me on the
beach and say, "Have at it." I was given a weapon, helmet, flak jacket, and
jungle boots. As believers, we are assured that we've been given "the whole
armor of God" to protect us (shield, helmet, breastplate, footwear, and a belt),
and a weapon to use in offense (the sword of the Spirit).
Since we've been given everything we need to be
successful in our warfare, we have two options. We can either be a "static
display" and not engage the enemy, or we can take up the armor and report for
duty to the "Captain of the host of the Lord" (Joshua 5:14-15, KJV).
What say ye, Man of Valor?
God
imparts His faith in us.
2 Corinthians 1:8-11 - For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers,
concerning our distress while we were in Asia, because we were burdened beyond
measure, beyond ability so we despaired even of living: but we have had the
sentence of death on ourselves, so that we could not have trusted in ourselves,
but in God, the One Who raises the dead: Who rescued us and will cause us to
escape from so great a death, in Whom we have hoped because yet still He will
deliver us, and, by your joining in helping us with your prayer on our behalf,
that
Romans 5:1-5 - Therefore, since we have been made righteous by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Y'shua Messiah also through Whom we have had
access by faith into this grace in which we stand and we boast in hope of the
glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in the afflictions, knowing
that affliction brings about perseverance, and patient endurance brings tried
character, and character brings hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the
love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has
been given to us.
Romans 10:12-17 - For the Scripture says, "No one who believes in Him will be
put to shame." (Isaiah 28:164) For there is no distinction between either Jewish
or Greek, for the same One is Lord of all, and He is rich, abundantly blessing
all those who call upon Him: for everyone who will call upon the name of the
Lord will be saved. (Joel 3:5)
Then how will they call upon Whom they did not believe? And
how could they believe what they did not hear? And how could they hear without
preaching? And how could they preach unless they would send preachers? Just as
it has been written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good
News of the good things." (Isaiah 52:7, Nahum 2:1) But they did not all obey the
one preaching the Good News. For Isaiah said, "Lord, who believed our report?"
(Isaiah 53:1) So then faith is from hearing, and hearing through the message
from Messiah. (See also the Parable of the Sower Matthew 13:1-23)
Ezekiel 36:26-27- And I will give you a new heart and I will put a new Spirit
within you and I will take away the stony heart from your flesh and I will give
you a heart of flesh. And I shall put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk
in My statutes and you will keep and do My judgments. (Revelation 21:3)
1 Peter 1:3-9 - God and Father of our Lord Y'shua Messiah be praised, the One
Who has begotten us anew according to His great mercy into living hope through
the resurrection from the dead of Y'shua Messiah, into an incorruptible pure and
unfading inheritance, which has been kept in the heavens for you, those who are
guarded by the power of God through faith into salvation, ready to be revealed
in the last time. In which you must continually rejoice, even if it must be for
a short time now, you are grieved in various trials, so that the testing of your
faith will be more valuable than gold, which perishes even though it is tested
by fire, and your faith would be found in praise and glory and honor at the
revelation of Y'shua Messiah: Whom you love, although you have not seen Him, in
Whom now, not seeing but still believing, you are rejoicing with unspeakable and
glorious joy carrying off for yourselves the goal of your faith, salvation of
your very beings.
2 Corinthians 4:1-7 - Because of this, since we have this service, just as we
have been shown mercy, we do not lose heart but we disowned the hidden things of
shame, not walking in cunning and not corrupting the Word of God, but in the
disclosure of truth, showing ourselves to everybody's conscience before God. And
if indeed our gospel has been covered, it has been hidden to the lost, among
whom the god of this age blinded the minds of the unbelievers so the light of
the Good News of the glory of Messiah, Who is the image of God, did not shine
forth. For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Y'shua Messiah Lord, and we are
your servants by means of Y'shua. Because God is the One Who said, "Light will
shine out of darkness," (Isaiah 9:1) which shined in our hearts to reveal the
knowledge of the glory of God in the presence of Y'shua Messiah. But we have
this treasure in clay vessels, so that the extraordinary character of the power
would be of God and not out from us...
Breaking Cultural Strongholds -By
Larry Rutledge -
...What does God want us to do? Mario [Murillo] said he believes most of God's
people live so far below their rights and privileges that they are
unrecognizable. He told the people we have more authority and power in Christ
than we think we do. He said Satan's great fear is that we would find out who we
really are and what we can do.
He then quoted, "We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. We use
God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of
human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle
that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and
teach them to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NLT).
He said, "The church not only has the power to change American Woke
culture, it has a duty to do so. Any Christian not actively involved in America
is AWOL, a deserter. And any Christian who speaks against the idea of
Christianity changing America is a traitor."
You don't know what to say - By Will Graham - ...If you ask most people why
they didn't share their faith in a situation such as this, the answer would be
"I didn't know what to say," or "I was afraid I wouldn't know the answer to
their questions or objections."
...Consider Moses (Exodus 4:10-12): Moses, the man who would lead
the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt, who would cross the Red Sea, was not a
leader who inspired a lot of confidence. In fact, he was downright scared, and
he knew his limitations.
Moses confessed to God that he was not a good communicator and
could not lead people with his words. "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, I am slow
of speech and slow of tongue." We may say it differently here in the 21st
century, but how many times have we expressed basically the same thing to God?
Of course, his excuses made it about as far as yours or mine.
God basically responded, "Don't worry. I've got this!" God told
Moses, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing,
or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your
mouth and teach you what you shall say."
...If God did this for Moses, then God will do it for you and me as
well. We must be obedient to God's calling and prayerfully dependent upon Him in
those moments as we boldly step out and trust that God will speak through us.
John 14:25-27 -
I have spoken these things to you while I am still with
you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,
will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave
with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let
not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Luke 12:8-12 - I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him will
the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me
before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a
word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but he who blasphemes against the
Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they bring you to the synagogues,
rulers, and authorities, do not be anxious how you will answer or what you will
say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.
Matthew 10:16-20 - Look, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of
wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men,
for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their
synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a
testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no
thought of how or what you will speak. For it will be given you at that time
what you will speak. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father
who speaks through you.
Replacing Fear & Doubt with Faith (Pastor Todd Mullins & Abby Trivett) - The
Holy Spirit says: "You aren't enough. But I Am.' ...Ultimately, faith doesn't
mean we won't struggle with doubt. It means we choose to believe God is greater
than our doubts. Even when we feel unqualified, He sees something much greater
inside of us. The key is to take that step of obedience, trusting that He is
always enough.
Servants of
Christ: Laborers & Cost of Discipleship
Consider Peter before the Day of Pentecost, when Jesus was arrested, Peter
denied Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75) and after Pentecost, (Acts 4:13):
When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they
were illiterate and uneducated men, they marveled. And they recognized that they
had been with Jesus.
Luke 9: Christ sent out His twelve disciples as examples to follow. Note
also when the disciples suggested to Jesus to send the five thousand men plus
women and children to towns so they could have food and shelter, Jesus said to
the disciples "You give them something to eat." (Luke 9:13)
Also in Luke 9 Jesus declared: If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save
his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For
what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed
or lost?
(Luke 9:23-25)
The True Gospel: Pain Before Joy - By Dr. Ray Rooney Jr. - ...Jesus wasn't
crucified for being friendly. Nor was he nailed to a cross for proclaiming the
Golden Rule or the Royal Law. He wasn't killed because of the Beatitudes,
creating a model prayer for His followers, or for telling a Pharisee that "God
so loved the world," Jesus was crucified because of the authority He wielded and
the power He demonstrated which testified of His innate righteousness.
...Which prophet in the Old Testament did not address sin and the
dire consequences that would occur if repentance did not take place? That's
right, none of them. Read Stephen's speech in Acts 7:2-53. They didn't make him
the first Christian martyr because he counseled love and acceptance. And then
there are the apostles. All of them were victims of violence and died nasty
deaths, and it wasn't for sharing the love and acceptance of God. Pick up a copy
of Foxe's Book of Martyrs. You know from the title what you are about to read.
...Obeying God has never been easy (building an ark, sacrificing
Isaac, the Exodus, facing Goliath, leaving everything to follow Christ).
Rewarding and glorious, but rarely easy. ...The constant and rhythmic heartbeat
of the Bible is a turning away from sin and a turning toward God. ...There is no
biblical model of comforting sinners outside of repentance. For goodness sake,
just a few sentences beyond the most famous verse in the Bible (John 3:16) we
read, "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people
loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil" (John
3:19). So even after conveying that "God so loved the world," Jesus still felt
it necessary to address sin and judgment.
...I am not advocating a steady diet of hell and judgment minus
grace and forgiveness. ...But if you buy into God's acceptance without
repentance, how would you ever find mercy and grace? Jesus said the Holy Spirit
would "convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment"
(John 16:8). ...The gospel of Jesus Christ is abrasive and it is meant to be (because
of Original Sin). When Jesus fielded Nicodemus' question "How can these things
be?" (John 3:9) He didn't go out of His way to make Nicodemus feel more
comfortable. ...No, He pretty much insulted the Pharisee by asking him how he
could be so ignorant: "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not
understand these things?" (John 3:10).
...There simply is no biblical mandate to save the lost with divine
accolades of love and acceptance without addressing the sin problem. In Mark,
the first words of Jesus are: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is
at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). ...
[T]the early church wasn't persecuted for holding hands and singing kumbaya to sinners. ...It is not
any pastor's or church's job to get people to feel good about themselves.
Rather, "we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We
implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). Now, how
in the world does telling someone that God has reserved heaven for those who
continue to live as they please comport with a message of reconciliation? It doesn't.
Unstoppable
- By Dr. Ray Rooney Jr. - ...Faithful followers of Jesus Christ are being
slammed in just about every arena that exists. We're haters, bigots,
narrow-minded, foolish, dangerous, and not even worthy of being included in the
Bill of Rights. We're homophobic, Islamophobic, xenophobic, and racist. They say
we're a scourge to decency and a virus to humanity. We are supposed to cower in
our churches and keep silent in the public sphere. The Bible is mocked,
ridiculed, and despised. It's easy for the faithful to become disenchanted,
discouraged, and even afraid. ...Wake up, believer! Remember the Word of God!
Call to remembrance Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are you
when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you
falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.
(Matthew 5:11-12).
John 17:20-26 - [Jesus] I do not ask concerning them only,
but also concerning those who believe in Me because of the disciples' message,
so that all would be one, just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they
also would be in Us, so that the world would believe that You sent Me. And I
have given them the glory which You have given to Me, so that they would be one
just as We are One: I in them and You in Me, so that they would have been
brought into unity, so that the world would know that You sent Me and You loved
them just as You loved Me. Father, the One Who gave to Me, I want that where I
am those would be with Me, so that they would see My glory, which You have given
to Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father,
even though the world did not know You, but I did know You, and these knew that
You sent Me: and I made Your name known to them and I shall make known, so that
the love with which You loved Me would be in them and I would be in them.
Jesus came as the ultimate peacemaker, offering peace with God to those who
would accept His terms of surrender. (Ron Helle) ...We need to follow Jesus'
advice about going to war. "Or what king, going out to
encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he
is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty
thousand?" (Luke 14:31) ... Like Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem, we build God's kingdom one brick (convert) at a time, holding the sword of the Spirit and
asking for the heavenly resources to defeat the enemy. We are never outnumbered.
Peace through "fire superiority"!
Luke 14:28 - For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first,
and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luke 10:2 - Therefore said He unto them, The harvest truly
is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,
that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.
John 12:24-26 - "I [Y'shua] most definitely say to
you, unless a grain of wheat would die when it falls to the earth, it only
remains itself: but if it would die, it brings much fruit. The one who loves his
life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it in
eternal life. If someone would serve Me, he must continually follow Me, and
where I AM there also will My servant be: if someone would serve Me the Father
will honor him."
Colossians 4:5-6 - "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the
time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know
how ye ought to answer every man."
'Beware
All Who Enter Here!' God's blessings come through obedience and
servanthood. There is no other way. - By Ron Helle - ...Warnings are good.
...Jesus was someone who gave warnings. On one occasion, a man approached Him as
He was about to depart in a boat. "And a scribe came up and said to him,
'Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.' And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have
holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay
his head'" (Matthew 8:19-20, ESV). Jesus was essentially telling this man to
count the cost.
We are all familiar with the story of the rich young ruler who came
to Jesus asking what he must do to obtain eternal life. Jesus listed some of the
commandments, and the young man stated that he had done those things from his
youth. "And he said to him, 'Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.' And
Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'You lack one thing: go, sell
all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven;
and come, follow me.' Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he
had great possessions" (Mark 10:20-22). It says that Jesus "loved him," but He didn't negotiate or follow after him. He needed to count the cost.
I'm not sure the Church is doing a very good job of telling people
coming through our doors, "Beware all ye who enter here!" How many are told that
we are to 'take up our cross daily"? Jesus said this to His disciples: "And he
said to them, 'Pay attention to what you hear'" (Mark 4:24). As Christians, we
need to understand that biblical instruction is not intended to give us head
knowledge. God doesn't impart 'suggestions" - He gives "commandments," not
because He is a cosmic killjoy, but because He created us for purpose and
relationship.
Listen to these statements from Jesus. "Everyone then who hears
these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on
the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on
that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock"
(Matthew 7:24-25). He went on to say that those who did not do those things were
building on sand.
In another place He said, "If you know these things, blessed are
you if you do them" (John 13:17). He said this as He finished washing the
disciples' feet, thus giving them a model of humble Christian service. God's
blessings come through obedience and servanthood. There is no other way. Jesus
said, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that
your joy may be full" (John 15:11). It may be good to put the welcome mat at the church's front door, but maybe we need to put the pirate mat at the entrance of
the sanctuary: "Beware all who enter here!" A-a-r-r-g-g-h-h-h! What say ye,
Man of Valor?
Proverbs 17:15 - The one who justifies the wicked and the one who condemns the just, even
they both are abomination to the LORD*.
John 15:18-25 -
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you
were of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the
world, but I chose you from the world, the world hates you because of this. You
must continually remember the message, which I spoke to you, A servant is not
greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, then they will persecute you
(2 Timothy. 3:12): if they kept My word, then they will
keep yours.
But they will do all these things to you because of My name, because they
have not known the One Who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they
would not have sinned: but now they do not have an excuse concerning their sin.
The one who hates Me also hates My Father. If I did not do works among them
which no one else had done, they would not have sinned: but now they also have
seen and they have also hated both Me and My Father. But so that the statement
would be fulfilled which has been written in their Torah (Teaching)
that "They hated Me without reason." (Psalm 35:19; 69:5)
2 Timothy 3:12-17 - And all those who want to live in a Godly manner in
Messiah Y'shua will be persecuted. (John 15:20) But evil people and swindlers
will go from bad to worse, deceiving more and being deceived. But you must
continuously remain in what you learned and became convinced of, because you
know from whom you learned, and because you have known the sacred writings from
childhood, the things that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith
in Messiah Y'shua. All Scripture is God-inspired and useful for teaching, for
reproof, restoration, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God
would be able to meet all demands, since he has been equipped perfectly for
every good work.
Revelation 3:10-11 -
And you must stop fearing what you are going to suffer! Behold the devil is
going to cast you into prison so that you would be tested and you will have
distress ten days. (Daniel 1:12, 14) You must be faithful until death, and I
will give you the crown of life. The one who has ears must now listen to what
the Spirit is saying to the congregations. The one who conquers cannot be
injured by the second death.
1 John 4:4 - Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.
"I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved
by what I believe." --Kenneth Hagin
"By trusting we understand that the worlds were created by a spoken Word of God
(Psalms 33:6, 104:5, Job 38:4, Hebrews 11:3), so that what is seen has not come
out of things which are visible." --Hebrews 11:3.
"Those who never experience conflict or suffering for Christ in this life may
find they have become too comfortable with the downstream culture around them."
--Ron Helle
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold
that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and
honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love;
in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy
unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the
salvation of your souls. --1 Peter 1:7-9
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were
counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. --Acts 5:41 (See Acts 5:12-42 for
the full account.)
James 1:2-8 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let
patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting
nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men
liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in
faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven
with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any
thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Philippians 3:2-10 -
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the
circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and
have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the
flesh. If any other man thinks that he has whereof he might trust in the flesh,
I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning
zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law,
blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea
doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do
count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine
own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the
power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made
conformable unto his death;
Romans 8:1-14 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of
the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and
death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin
in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who
walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;
but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally
minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the
carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But
you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God
dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life
because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell
in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal
bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors,
not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if you live after the flesh, you
shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you
shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God.
'A Broken and Contrite Heart' - BY Ray Ronney Jr. ...And this is where many
among us seem to have abandoned common sense. The church is not called to help
sinners accept an accommodating God. Rather, the church is called to utilize the
power of the Holy Spirit to bring about inner transformation that makes the
sinner acceptable to God! ...Again, I would ask, "how did He manage to find
Himself on a cross if He was known for being loving and accepting?"
...Which prophet in the Old Testament did not address sin and the
dire consequences that would occur if repentance did not take place? That's
right, none of them. Read Stephen's speech in Acts 7:2-53. They didn't make him
the first Christian martyr because he counseled love and acceptance. And then
there are the apostles. All of them were victims of violence and died rather
nasty deaths and it wasn't for sharing the love and acceptance of God. Pick up a
copy of Foxe;s Book of Martyrs. You know from the title what you are about to
read. Obeying God has never been popular or easy. ... For
goodness' sake, just a few sentences beyond the most famous verse in the Bible
(John 3:16) we read, "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the
world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works
were evil (John 3:19). So even after conveying that "God so loved the world,"
Jesus still felt it necessary to address sin and judgment. ...I am not
advocating a steady diet of hell and judgment minus grace and forgiveness. But
it is no healthier to advocate love and acceptance without wrath and judgment.
... It is not any pastor's or church's job to get people to feel
good about themselves. Rather, "we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his
appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God"
(2 Corinthians 5:20). Now, how in the world does telling someone that God accepts them
just as they are, comporting with a message of reconciliation? It doesn't.
"Catch It by the Tail" - By Dr. Ray Rooney Jr. - The call to obey God is not
in the form of a question. ...Now we come to [Exodus] chapter 4 and Moses
finally addressed the elephant in the room: But behold, they will not believe me
or listen to my voice, for they will say, "The Lord did not appear to you"
(Exodus 4:1). That seems fair enough. Aren't we all skeptical of those who tell
us they have been talking to God and said conversation involves us? Look what
happened next: The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A
staff." And he said "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and
it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. But the Lord said to Moses, "Put out
your hand and catch it by the tail," so he put out his hand and caught it, and
it became a staff in his hand, "that they may believe that the Lord, the God of
their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has
appeared to you" (Exodus
4:2-5).
...There is no relationship with God outside of faith (Hebrews
11:6). And there is no evidence of faith without obedience (Acts 5:32). Clearly,
there comes a point in time when everyone who calls out to God must do what
initially seems absurd, ludicrous, and even dangerous. The calling of God is not
a summons to mediocrity or cultural acceptance. It is not a call to get in line.
It is a call to step out of line.
...What many of us fail to realize is that this is precisely the
moment that validated the ministry of Moses forever. Forget about plagues, the
Red Sea parting, manna from heaven, water from a rock, the Ten Commandments, and
the Promised Land, if Moses fails to reach for the snake's tail. We already know
he ran when he saw it. Now the command to go back and catch it by the tail.
...When it comes to the Great Commission we either "Go, and make disciples," or
go to church and contribute money to make sure someone else does it.
...The measure of Moses' greatness was not that he successfully
liberated the Hebrews from Pharaoh's vice-like grip. It wasn't the parting of
the Red Sea, bringing forth water from a rock, or even the delivery of the 10
Commandments (still heralded to this day!). No, the greatness of Moses was
determined when after fleeing in fear from a snake, he returned to pick it up by
the tail because God told him to do it.
Representatives & Ambassadors of the
King of Kings
Battle stations, battle stations! All hands man your
battle stations! This is NOT a drill. I say again, this is NOT a drill!
2 Timothy 1:7-9 - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of power and
love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor me His prisoner, but you must now suffer hardships together with me to
further the gospel according to the power of God, the One Who rescues us and
calls us to a holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own
purpose and grace, because that grace was given to us by Messiah Y'shua before
eternal time.
o Andrew preached in Asia Minor, modern-day Greece and Turkey, before being
crucified on a sideways "Saint Andrew's Cross" around 60 AD;
o Thomas preached east of Syria, Parthia, and possibly India, and was pierced
through with spears by four soldiers in 72 AD;
o Philip reportedly preached in Egypt, Carthage in North Africa, and Asia Minor.
After converting the wife of a Roman proconsul in Phrygia, he was arrested and
cruelly put to death in the city of Heliopolis around 80 AD;
o Matthew preached in Parthia, Persia and Ethiopia, where he was reportedly
stabbed to death in the back in city of Nadabahl in 74 AD;
o Bartholomew, according to tradition, preached in India, Armenia, Ethiopia and
Southern Arabia, before being skinned and martyred in the 1st century AD;
o James, thbre son of Zebedee, also know as "James, the greater," was arrested
by Herod Agrippa, and beheaded by the Romans in 44 AD;
o James, the son of Alpheus, also known as "James, the younger," is said to have
ministered in Syria, where he was stoned and clubbed to death in 62 AD;
o Thaddaeus, or Jude, preached in Asia Minor and Greece, till he was crucified
in Beirut or Edessa around 65 AD;
o Simon the Zealot reportedly preached in Persia, Mauritania, on Africa's west,
and possibly England, before being crucified in 74 AD;
o Matthias preached in Syria, where he was burned to death.
"First Love" & Forgiveness
Revelation 2:1-8 - The One Who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One
Who walks among the seven golden menorahs, says these things: I know your works
and toil and your patience and that you are not able to bear evil, and you
tested those who say they are apostles and they are not and you found them
false: and you have patience and you endured because of My name and you have not
wearied. Nevertheless I have against you that you left your first love.
Therefore you must remember from where you have fallen and you must now repent
and you must do the works you did at first: and if not, I am coming to you and I
shall remove your menorah from its place, if you would not repent. But you have
this, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans [1], which I also hate. (Psalms
139:21-24) The one who has ears must now listen to what the Spirit is saying to
the congregations. To the one who conquers, I shall give him permission to eat
from the tree of life, (Genesis 2:9) which is in the Paradise of God. ([1]Nicolaitans
taught compromise with the world system, materialism and tolerance of
immorality.)
John 15:1-10 - I AM the true vine and My Father is the farmer. He removes every
branch in Me if it does not bear fruit, and He prunes every branch that bears
fruit so that it would bear more fruit. You are already pruned because of the
Word which I have spoken to you: you must now dwell in Me and I in you. Just as
the branch is not able to bear fruit by itself unless it would remain in the
vine, so you could not bear fruit unless you would dwell continuously in Me. I
am the vine, you are the branches. The one who dwells in Me and I in him, this
one bears much fruit, because apart from Me you are not able to do anything.
Unless someone would dwell in Me, he is cast outside like the branch and it
withers and they gather it and cast it into the fire and it is burned. If you
would dwell in Me and My words would dwell in you, whatever you would wish you
must immediately ask, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified in
this, so that you would bear much fruit and you will become My disciples. Just
as the Father loved Me, and I loved you: you are dwelling in My love. If you
would keep My commandments, you will dwell in My love, just as I have kept the
commandments of My Father and I dwell in His love.
Second Chances - by Ron Helle - ...[W]hat about those of us who struggle as
Christians with sin in our lives? What do we do when the condemnation of the
enemy accuses us before God and we just want to crawl into a corner? I've been
there. Those are the times when we need to remember, like King David, who we've
sinned against. David's confession of murdering Uzziah didn't shift the blame.
He said, "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Samuel 12:13). It is the Lord from
whom we seek forgiveness, and Scripture shows us His thoughts about it.
Forgiveness: Jesus does not keep score. And because He does not
keep score, I can come to Him when I stumble and fail, knowing that He grants
forgiveness. (Matthew 18:21-22) I can assure you that everyone who has trusted
Jesus as Lord and Savior are well past the "second chance" marker on the road of
life. God spoke to Israel through the prophet Isaiah, telling them that, despite
their turning away from Him, "His hand is stretched out still" (Isaiah 9:12).
Need another chance? His hand is still stretched out to you and me.
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be
Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our
debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. For if you
forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if
you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses.
Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance.
For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting.
Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint
your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting,
but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in
secret will reward you openly.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and
where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and
steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
If My People
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 - If I shut up heaven so there is no rain, or if I command
the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people: if My
people, who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, and seek My
face and turn from their wicked ways, then I shall hear from heaven and will
forgive their sin and will heal their land.
"...If my people..." Citizens of the Kingdom of God
"...which are called by My Name,..." Christians
"...shall humble themselves,..." Worthy?
"...and pray, and seek my face,..." Power of God required
"...and turn from their wicked ways;..." Repent (choose this day whom you will
serve, self & flesh or God & Spirit?) "...then will I hear from heaven,..." If I
regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. (Psalm 66:18) "...and
will forgive their sin,..." And their sins and iniquities will I remember no
more. (Hebrews 10:17)
"...and will heal their land." Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a
reproach to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything
give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench
the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is
good. Abstain from every form of evil. Blessing and Admonition Now may the God
of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and
body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls
you is faithful, who also will do it.
Isaiah 62:6-7 - I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never
hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep
silent, And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a
praise in the earth.
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
Luke 18:1-8 - Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and
not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not
fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to
him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' And he would not for a
while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor
regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her
continual coming she weary me.' Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge
said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him,
though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the
earth?"
Praying in Tongues
Romans 8:14-17, 26-27 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are
sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but
you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The
Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if
children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we
suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. ... Likewise the Spirit
also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we
ought,
but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the
Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will
of God.
Even in Old
Age, Until I Die
"Do what you can for God." Easy to say “Oh, I’m 70 years old an retired.” Or,
“I’m in my 80s…I can’t do that.” Or "I’m old and tired." Yet as we have relied
on the Word of God, let us consider that Moses was 80 years old when he first
appeared before Pharaoh, demanding “Let my people go?”
And God used Moses mightily. He also wrote much of Scripture, writing down
biblical history and the Torah, Law of God.
Deuteronomy 34:7 - “Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed
and his vigor unabated.”
Psalm 71:18 - “Now that I am old and my hair is gray, don’t leave me, God. I
must tell the next generation about Your power and greatness.”
Psalm 92:14 - “They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and
green.”
“You only get one chance in this life to do what you can for God. I’m just
thankful that I understand that, because so many today don’t get it. It took me
many years to ‘get it,’ so it’s a joy to work for my LORD!” ...“Now it’s YOUR
turn! It’s time to get off the bench and get in the game!” -- Jim Burmeister
Isaiah 46:4 - “Even to your old age and gray hairs I Am He who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you.”