Saturday, March 14, 2015

Horror Hath Taken Hold Upon Me

Psalm 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

Satan has such a grip on the heart of this country right now that the Saints must press in with prayer to the Lord for the lost and the deceived.  


What a sad moment in time when television shows are being used to glorify that which is called an abomination by God, the Creator of this world.  When I see articles of different news events on the side of my Facebook page glorifying shows that follow teenagers who are confused about who they were created to be, I mourn for every eye that will turn that show on.  When television shows are airing kids of the same gender, at the age of 12, doing that which is against God’s plan for their lives, I fall to my knees and say, “Lord, don’t forsake this land!  Extend your hand of mercy; penetrate our hearts, Lord.  Do what you must so that the people in this land will turn away from their sin and turn to you!”    



What a deceptive time when, unfortunately, people are twisting words from the Bible to condone that which is against the very nature of God’s plan for men and women.  Are believers so intimidated by Satan’s system that we can’t rise up in these last days and speak the Truth of the Word of God in order to set the captives free?   


Do we have too many friends who are in bondage to that sin that we can’t afford to tell
them the truth, for fear of them departing from us?  As you are being loyal to those friends, understand that you are betraying the Lord with a kiss - just as Judas did.


These captives (prisoners) to Satan do not even realize that they are in bondage to a death grip of sin.  The vice is slowly tightening around their throats as they continue to hold up signs and commit acts that are clearly spoken against in God’s Word.  


May we not forget that Satan attempted to quote the Bible for his own gain to Jesus Himself!  But the Lord used the Word against Satan.  We are not to remain silent just because those deceived misuse the Bible for filthy purposes.  


Some would argue that “their bible” tells them to love - as in we should not call sin what it is … sin.


What a strange distortion of love shouted from the housetops these days.  


We are taught about love in Romans 13:8-10


8...for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.


Do we not clearly see how love does not continue in sin?  Read the verses again.  We cannot afford to fall for the lie being espoused by so many.  Love will warn and exhort those who are practicing sin.  Love will not be silent while sin is being committed.  And love will not practice/commit/go against any commandment set forth by God.  



1) From the origin of the world, God’s statute was and still is clear:
 
Genesis 2:22-24And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.


2)  Jesus echoed these same words when He walked the earth:


Matthew 19:5 & Matthew 19:65 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.


3) The Holy Spirit Still Teaches The Covenant Between a Man and a Woman:



Ephesians 5:23, 5:24, 5:25, 5:28
Ephesians 5:31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they who shall be one flesh.


4) In The Old Testament and the New Testament, God’s Word does not change.


Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.


Jesus also says in Matthew 5:17:  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  


What is the link between the Old Testament Law and the New Testament Covenant? 

 Jesus Christ

The Old Testament law was certainly important and decreed by God, but man could never truly be delivered from the laws he broke.  In other words, man could not deliver himself from his own sin.  The best he could do was offer yearly sacrifices of animals.  Yet, when he walked away from that sacrificial ceremony, he would inevitably fail in some area of the law and commandments.  


However, the Lord provided a better way for all who follow Christ.  Jesus was the perfect sacrifice.  

He was sinless.  1 Peter 2:21 & 1 Peter 2:22


He became the sacrificial Lamb, once and for all.  


When a person understands his sinfulness, repents of the sin in his life, and instead turns to Christ, through obedience, the Holy Spirit will guide the follower of Christ into all truth.  It is not that we, by professing our belief in Jesus, can continue in sin and our sins still be covered or hidden under the blood.  That form of grace does not exist in the Bible, no matter how popular that false doctrine is.  



True Grace, According to the Bible Does the Following:


Titus 2:11, 2:12, 2:13, 2:14, 2:1511 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Grace does not allow sin; grace teaches a person who is following Christ HOW TO OVERCOME sin!  

Glory!  Freedom!  For those of you who are suffocating from sin’s grip around your neck, there is HOPE!  In Christ Jesus, you are no longer in bondage to the sin that has controlled you.  Cry out to the Lord. There are no special rehearsed words that you need to say.  Just cry out to the Lord!  He will come running to set you free!  He will find you and rescue you from any sin.


1 Peter 5:8, 5:9, 5:10, 5:11, 5:12
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
Notice in the verses above that the suffering is in direct relation to a believer who is resisting (not giving into) Satan.  We resist Satan and his temptations by praying to the Lord, seeking the Lord, reading the Bible, fasting.  After we have endured IN Christ and not given in to the sin, the Lord is faithful to perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us.  I could not type these words if I had not personally experienced how these verses and this explanation are true.  Any battle or temptation in my life that has been won, wholly and completely, has been won using the formula in the 1 Peter verses above.  
Satan will flee from a person who resists him.  Satan may flee quickly or may linger and attack for an extended period of time, but I promise he will depart if you do are obedient to what the Spirit says in verses 8-9.


For those of you who are struggling with the sin outlined in this blog or with any sin (for
there are many sins), I pray that you stay at the feet of the Lord.  No matter how strong your desire is to commit a particular sin, the Lord is the way of escape!  He will lead you to freedom if you seek Him.  For some, deliverance may come immediately, and for others, the battle may be long and tiring, but the Lord is faithful to those who Trust and Believe IN His ability to deliver us from the bondage of sin, any sin!


The days are rapidly growing darker.  That which is an abomination to God is now being glorified on television for anyone to see.  We removed cable from our home a year ago due to the increasing ungodliness showcased on cable television.  We couldn’t effectively monitor what our children’s eyes would be exposed to: not just shows, but commercials.  Even channels that were supposedly for young kids were starting to allow hosts for these children’s shows who were ungodly in an overt sense.


Can we not see that the men who were encompassing Lot’s home in Genesis 19 are now surrounding the church, seeking to infiltrate that which is Holy?  Lot offered his virgin daughters in place of the men (angels) who were being housed in his home.  Genesis 19:8  
Yet, the men of the city, did not want Lot’s virgin daughters.  Lot withstood the sin pressing upon his door, and when he did, the Angels in his home provided for Lot a way of escape from the sinfulness that surrounded him.  The Power of God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.  

Lot withstood the evil, and the Lord led him safely out of that town before its destruction.


The Lord is calling us to press against the door and protect that which is Holy:  The CHURCH!   Don’t allow an abomination inside.  If we are faithful to resist the devil, the LORD, by the POWER of His Grace, will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us.  We will never taste the wrath that is coming.  

Protect that which is sacred in the eyes of the Lord & point the lost to the Only One who can set them free.

Below:
This is a Spirit led sermon that I pray everyone listens to. I typed up this blog this morning with a sense of urgency from the same Holy Spirit. It wasn't until after I typed the blog that I saw this sermon shared on Facebook. The Spirit of God is pleading with His people. Now is the time to seek His Face. This country has crossed over to godlessness, and the Lord will only hear those who humble themselves before Him. Stand in the Gap for this nation and for the lost in it. I fully support the Holy Spirit driving this man's message below. Watch when you have time to really hear what the Spirit is saying. 



Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Worthy of Our Praise

I have been seeking the Lord the last few days on two particular matters.  Yesterday, I bowed before Him in prayer on those issues and felt led to start openly speaking how JUST the Lord is.  And how righteous the Lord is.  I said, "Lord, when you return, every judgment you make toward man will be just because You are justified in ALL of Your ways."







         JUST:
1.Honorable and fair in one's dealings and actions.
2. Consistent with what is morally right; righteous.
3. Properly due or merited.


Do you know that later last night, the Lord answered my prayer on both of the issues I had been praying about? Those two topics were not related at all. Yet, The Lord, answered my prayer about the two topics in the exact same manner. I thought, "Lord, how in the world do You do that!" Only He can.  He makes me laugh with love and devotion to Him.  Oh, how I love Him.

If you are in need of the Lord's answers, I recommend that you continually seek Him.  Don't stop.  In the midst of searching for Him . . . you must also wholeheartedly PRAISE HIM and all of His glory.  Praise Him because He is your creator & He has His hand on all.  His justice will be served in the end.  I praise Him for being God!  I am so thankful that these false gods are not real.  I am so thankful that Satan is not in control. My soul rests in knowing that the Lord Jesus is in control!  

I long for the day that I, and all others, will see Jesus coming in ALL of His Glory.  The Bible tells us
that EVERY KNEE WILL BOW to Him (Romans 14:11). Not just Christian knees, but atheist knees will bow.  All will bow no matter how many false gods were served; all will identify JESUS Christ as Lord of lords and King of kings.  What a moment that will be!  His judgment of every single one of us in that day will be JUST.  No matter where any of us spend eternity - with Him or in the lake of fire, the decision will be JUST.  


He Is JUST.

Psalm 7:17
I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.
Psalm 9:1
I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
Psalm 9:2
I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.


Psalm 9:11
Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

Psalm 18:3
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Psalm 18:49
Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
Psalm 21:13
Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
Psalm 22:3
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.


Psalm 22:23
Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
Psalm 22:26
The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Our Sanctification

Salvation comes through sanctification, and sanctification only comes through the Word & the Holy Spirit. And, of course, and thankfully, salvation nor sanctification would be possible without Jesus Christ. This is according to the Holy Word of God:

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.


John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

2 Thessalonians 2: 13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

How is salvation attained? through sanctification of the Spirit & belief of the truth.

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Sanctification through the Spirit and the Word is an absolutely necessary process in any believer's life; that is not to say, however, that the Spirit's sanctification will absolutely occur in a believer's life. You see, believing in Christ is not a one time event, but a continual abiding belief in Jesus. (Read John 15)

In 1 John, John makes it clear that he is speaking to believers, yet John explains that he has also written to these "present" believers in order for them to continue believing.

1 John 5:13

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;
--> that ye may know that ye have eternal life, 
                      and
--> that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

When we believe in the Son of God, we will be sanctified by the Spirit & the Word. Salvation comes through sanctification of the Spirit & belief of the Truth. Since the Spirit presents Truth to a believer, we can see how the two cannot be separated, for they are one. We can also see how crucial it is that we continue believing in the Son of God.  John 14:6 

Can a "present tense" believer cease believing (cease being faithful)?

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.


Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away (to apostatize/apostasy) to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

2 Peter 2:21
2 Peter 2:22


Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Colossians 1:21-23 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;


The purpose of this blog is not to cause strife or debate. These words are not to "out-do" or "out-write" others on topics pertaining to the Lord. These are not words to bring worry or doubt into a person's mind. Sadly, so many are struck with fear or anger when presented with this Truth from the Word of God. I pray these Truths from the Word bring freedom and empowerment to others. There is liberty in the Truth, for where the Spirit is, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).

There are too many people who did not fight the good fight of faith in Jesus Christ - because they didn't think they were called to do just that. Many began strongly in the Lord, but when difficulties arose, they fell away. The Lord has given me, time and again these last several years, a specific calling: Tell them to repent and stay IN me (Christ), no matter what temptations & trials they encounter.

He, the Lord Jesus Christ, will keep those IN Him. Those who have departed from the faith are no longer kept, however. My heart weeps for those people. I weep when I think of the number of sermons that have falsely led believers to believe they were secure no matter what future decisions they would make.  Or that their current ungodly & unrepentant practices were still "under the blood." My God, what a fearful lie to tell (Ezekiel 22). We are eternally secure IF we are IN Christ and remain IN Christ, but we are doing no one any favors withholding the fact that this is a fight of faith until the end. Salvation is fully achieved at the end. We are to abide IN Christ until the end. Separated from Him, there can be no sanctification by the Holy Spirit and the Word (GRACE).  


The Lord is faithful to carry out His sanctification of us, but His faithfulness has never been the question. Will we be faithful to His will in our lives when His Spirit attempts to cleanse us and bring us to repentance? When the Holy Spirit of Grace puts His finger on a wrong practice in our lives, will we heed the Spirit's call? Or will we do despite (insult) to the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29)? Mark 3:29 & Luke 12:10


Will we bow our heads in submission and follow the Spirit's lead, or will we, like Esau, sell our birthright? (Hebrews 12:16)

Only those who are exercised (trained) by the Lord's chastisement will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Chastisement, alone, is not an indication of righteousness or sanctification. (Hebrews 12:5 & Hebrews 12:11) These two verses indicate two aspects:


1) A believer who is being chastised could, unfortunately, be made "weary" and "faint" in their "minds." (Hebrews 12:5)


2) A believer who allows the Spirit of God to instruct, teach, correct, chastise him or her will yield the "fruit of righteousness" and will be a "partaker of His holiness." (Hebrews 12:11, Hebrews 12:10, Hebrews 12:14)


When, unfortunately, a believer ceases to be taught and sanctified by the Lord, then that person is no longer a follower of Christ (no longer a believer) - no matter how much the person contends otherwise. The sanctification must be continual. A person can walk strongly with the Lord for a period of time, but can fall away through the hardness of sin, disobedience, doubt, fear, etc. 

 
  Acts 26:18

Romans 15:16
1 Thessalonians 4:3
1 Thessalonians 5:23







We can't afford to overlook the tricks of Satan either. For far too long, he has convinced people that he is like the Wile E. Coyote. Don't fall for that lie.  



Satan is truly diabolical. Never take lightly Jesus' description of him:



There are thoughts that he interjects into our minds that can lead a person to believe and act on Satan's lies -- without the Holy Spirit helping us overcome. Satan is evil, but the evil that he attempts to plant into our minds is quite believable because he is a master manipulator of our flesh - When I say flesh, I don't simply mean our physical desires, but every ounce of who we are as a human being. He can tap into that and destroy us unless we yield to the sanctification of the Spirit and the Word. We can't yield if we don't abide in Christ.


Beloved, the first step we take in believing and following Christ is worthy of great rejoicing the moment it occurs. The Word of God calls us to continue in Christ, not because it is "given" that we will but that it is required if we are to be the overcomers Jesus speaks of in Revelation. Not for a while. But until the end. The Holy Spirit will sanctify us if we remain and obey. Revelation 21:7


Revelation 3:21

Revelation 3:12

Revelation 3:5

Revelation 2:26

Revelation 2:17

Revelation 2:11

Revelation 2:7

When tremendous trials arise in a believer's life, it is perhaps more apparent during those times that we need to cling closely to the Lord and listen for His Voice. Now those trials can be very difficult, but they are somewhat more apparent as to what we should do. That said, abiding in the Lord and being sanctified by Him is so necessary during these times.


There is a danger, though, of allowing "smaller" temptations slither into our lives almost unnoticed. I believe those may very well be the most dangerous sins because a heart that is gradually hardened by "harmless" sins is being conditioned to brush off the Holy Spirit's still, small voice in those circumstances. Those seemingly harmless moments of not heeding the Spirit (the very Spirit that sanctifies us to salvation) can lead and have led many a believer to fall away due to a gradual hardening of the heart.

Wasn't it Jude who spoke of certain men who crept into the church unaware (unnoticed)? If they crept in so subtly, couldn't that mean there was not anything overt in the sins/lies they were bringing to the church? Yet, Jude also states that these subtle men twisted the grace of God into a license to sin...


And just a few verses later Jude begins speaking of the sins in Sodom and Gomorrah ...



We have all that we need when we are in Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will sanctify those who abide in Christ. Will there be times of tremendous trials? That is certain.


But we are more than conquerors IN CHRIST JESUS. Even if Satan whispers thoughts of "who cares?" into your mind, stay in prayer to the Lord. Read the Holy Bible even when feelings of boredom and apathy seem to pour over you. Remember that the "small" temptations that you succumb to gradually harden your heart, leading you over time out of the Vine of Christ and away from the very Spirit that sanctifies you for salvation.





sanctify - Greek hagiazo - to make holy, i.e. purify or consecrate

sanctification - Greek hagiasmos - purification

Saturday, February 14, 2015

10:27

We must not attempt to hide behind a Holy Spirit who does not condone willful sin.  The Spirit makes a believer aware of sin in his or her life, but the Bible explicitly shows that a believer can still choose to become hardened by sin and not heed the warning, teaching, chastisement of the Spirit.





Hebrews 3: 7
Hebrews 3: 8
Hebrews 3: 12
Hebrews 3: 13
Hebrews 3: 14

Without the prompting, teaching, and presence of the Holy Spirit, we could learn nothing, and we could not overcome in Christ.

We would be like so many others who are clinging to empty religious figures who have no power.  We need that "earnest" of the Holy Spirit.  Without the down payment of the Holy Spirit, we are no different than those who follow the empty gods in other religions:  islam, buddhism, catholicism, hinduism, voodooism, etc.  They are simply going through fleshly motions and attaching a false god to their man-made works.  Their works are filthy rags and will not withstand the Judgment.




However, the true God has given His Spirit to those who believe in Him.  Why?  We can't overcome without His Spirit!  We must be led of His Spirit in order to be free from the bondage of sin.

Glory be to God that He gives those who believe in Jesus the earnest of the Holy Spirit.  Yet, the Word of God speaks to those who have the earnest of the Holy Spirit with warning - not just a "Please don't sin warning,"  but a warning that comes with eternal consequences for those who do not abide in Christ.

Can a person who has the Holy Spirit reject the prompting of the Spirit?  Yes.
The Word shows us that this is absolutely a concern for believers.

Hebrews 6: 4
Hebrews 6: 5
Hebrews 6: 6
Hebrews 6: 7
Hebrews 6: 8

Carefully examine each of those verses.  Those verses are not pertaining to someone who has never believed, and those verses are not pertaining to someone who never had the Holy Spirit.  The Lord does not break His covenant with a believer, but believers can break their covenant with the Lord.

Hebrews 10: 26
Hebrews 10: 27
Hebrews 10: 29

These verses are without confusion.  Only those in Christ are sanctified.  Yet, verse 29 uses the past tense form of sanctified in order to illustrate the fallen state of one who does not continue in obedience to the Spirit of grace.

The Spirit speaks to churches in Revelation warning some of those believers to repent.  The Spirit never states, "I know you will repent because you are 'sealed' with my Spirit."  Instead, the Spirit of Truth is able to convey changes that must be made by these believers.  There are areas of sin that only the Spirit can reveal.  What a tremendous privilege to have the Holy Spirit of the Lord present in a person's life.  How dreadful it is not to heed that very same Spirit, however.

Revelation 2: 26
Revelation 3: 5
Revelation 3: 16
Revelation 2: 5
1 Thessalonians 5: 19

We cannot separate having the Holy Spirit from being IN Christ.  That is very dangerous.

Ephesians 2: 18
2 Corinthians 3: 17
2 Corinthians 3: 18

If we are not IN Christ, then we are lost - eternally.

John 15: 2
John 15: 5
John 15: 6

Romans 11: 22

Closely examine the verses in the attached links to better understand how important it is to remain in Christ.  

IN Christ Verses

THROUGH Christ Verses

IN the Lord Verses

THROUGH Jesus Verses


IN CHRIST, we are kept and secure.  Outside of Christ, no longer abiding in the Vine, we are eternally lost.