BETTER!
True truth is true in any dispensation. In other words, God is Love in every dispensation. God is light and life and liberty in All dispensations, but how he handled man changed throughout time.
The book of Hebrews is written to..., Yep you guessed it, "HEBREWS", and not to gentiles. That means in the specific things spoken in the book they are toward the Jews, BUT there is truth behind much of the instructions for us as well.
So, in Hebrews the author is telling the Hebrews that Jesus is "BETTER"! Better than the angels, Moses and Priesthood! Better then everything and trying to encourage them to stay faithful to Jesus and not fall back into their traditions. To not fall back into works of the law and trying to earn their way but rather to receive the works of Christ.
Heb 7:19 "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."
Now we gentiles never had those traditions BUT we can put things above Christ can't we. We can put our spouse, families and friends above Christ! We can put our work, money and status above Christ. We can even put our church above Christ which so many do today in the name of Christ but really it is just tradition, religion and works!
Christ is BETTER and above ALL things...so stop trying so hard and just receive, rest and be refreshed in Him!
 

COME BOLDLY!
Sadly, the average pew sitter is scared of God! They fear the wrath of God because their focus is on their works and performance which always fails. They are focused on how to fix the fix that Jesus already fixed! This is why Catholics and other law teaching performance-oriented churches miss the mark so badly. They believe and teach that it is up to them to fix themselves. One more hail Mary or just one more confession will do it, (at least until they sin again.)
But Jesus died for all sin once and for all!
Rom 6:10   For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
AND
Heb 7:27  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
AND TO RECONCILE US TO GOD!
Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.
So, we don't need to be afraid of God's wrath rather we can "COME BOLDLY" and run too Him!
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Don't shrink back but RUN to Him in your time of need and be comforted by Him. GOD LOVES YOU! He wants to be with you and spend time with you, So RUN BOLDLY to Him!
 

1Th 5:11 "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."
Superficial relationships!
How well do you know the people who are at your church? For that matter how well do you know your own family? Do they ever talk deep or share intimate things? No I don't mean sexually intimate I mean their feelings and vulnerabilities. Their fears and concerns! Or even their victories!
Are the conversations always about something that happened like a sporting event or maybe someone from your hometown that did something bad or great or died. It it always about the weather or going hunting or fishing or shopping.... Do they ever share from their heart or is it always superficial.
I find most people don't really know the good and the bad others and therefore the relationships are superficial. Even among believers its mostly about doctrine and what does the bible say and nothing more. While knowing what the Word says is very important, we must not forget that we are human with hurts and frailties, and with desires and weaknesses and need each other.
Eph 4:2 "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"
Let us learn to receive the Word and give to others. Let us lean to be real with one another and not superficial. We can give love by counsel, friendship and listening to one another. We can grieve, comfort and just be there at times saying nothing.
Heb 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
 

Relationships!
Marriage, sin and blame!
Bob was the pastor of one of the largest churches in the U.S. He was a dynamic speaker, but he got caught up in pornography and eventually had extra marital affairs. He lost his job, wife and the respect of the Christian community. This is not uncommon in church leaders today.  Often the Christian community rejects and turns their backs on these pastors, but I sometimes wonder about the underlying or not talked about sins in the marriage and of the wife also.
1Co 7:1 "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency."
In other words, in marriage there is always 2 sides to relationships. I have counseled many couples including pastors in which the wife has neglected giving her body to her husband for years. Is her sin any worse than the mans i ask? Now I am not making excuses for the man's sin nor am I blaming the wife but what I want to bring out is that marriage takes two people on the same page, with the same heart, and walking in the same faith and love. (Notice in the above verses it says Defraud not which means to withhold from the other and Satan tempt you!)
At times we tend to blame the one who sins the loudest! The squeaky wheel gets the attention, but the other wheels can be just as bad if you know what I mean. A lot of sins can be going on, by both parties for many years before we see the big one so to speak. The big one that comes to light and breaks up the marriage.
By the way I have seen some marriages that survive with counseling, honesty and forgiveness on both sides. The example of this is Mark a pastor of one the fastest growing church in the U.S. who had numerous affairs with women in his church and his wife forgave and they are still together today. While he no longer pastors a church, he still has his marriage and family.
Before we blame one side let's look at both sides. One may sin 99% of the time and the other 1% of the time but both sinned and need to take responsibility for their sin! Let's walk through it together and try to see the sin, insecurities and lust that drives us. Let's talk and receive counsel from others and allow the word of God to heal our hearts and marriage!
 

The art of hiding!
In relationships and especially marriage, we often find one or both hiding things from the other. It can be things we think or feel or sexual affairs and even addictions. This hiding regardless of what it is, is sin and hurts the relationship.
We should be honest with our spouse and able to go and even ask for prayer. So often I find the last person they want to go to is their spouse. They fear the consequences as well as the vulnerability, yet that is what it takes. Being vulnerable with one another is vital in marriage or any relationship.
Eph 4:25 "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."
Have you ever noticed that even in the church we don't see people confessing or admitting to sin or problems with one another. Often, I find that most believers feel weird by asking for prayer. They feel weak and insecure and think this makes them a bad Christian. They fear being told that it is sin and "that" would be the worst thing they think.
The truth is we all sin and we all need help. We need to be one and truthful with each other especially in the marriage relationships. Don't hide but confide. Share your struggles, weaknesses and yes even sins with one another.
Jas 5:16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Stop hiding and know It is ok to be real, vulnerable and even weak. Be honest with your spouse or get help from someone who will listen and help you through your struggles.
 

Relationships!
Relationships are hard because there are so many details and emotions to them. How a person feels one day may change the next. Relationships is a giving and receiving type thing but sadly the problems arise from just a taking type thing. Taking for selfish use and desire. A lust for more love, more attention or more affection. In a marriage it can be one sided or controlling from one or both.
Jamess 4:1 "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."
Jesus said John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."
AND
Paul reemphasizes it in Gal 5:13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
I think we all can use liberty for an occasion to sin. We say, "don't I deserve love"! "You are supposed to love me" we may think or say.  We demand love instead of giving it. We may not demand by throwing a fit, {yet we may do that too} but deep inside we are always wanting more and giving less! Sometimes we may even do nice, caring things for others so we can receive something back. We walk in rejection and lust for love, so we try harder, only to be disappointed again and again until we quit the relationship or become bitter and blowup!
Our job is "give love" not seek it! YES, we may receive love if given to us, but we are never to demand in some form nor are we to go around depressed or down if we don't get it. Being sad, depressed and down is merely lusting, self-seeking and self-centered without outwardly demanding or saying it!
Always take an honest appraisal of yourself and ask the question am I loving others or lusting for love, attention or affection! Remember we receive from God and give to others! Giving and receiving is God's way, buying and selling is man's way!
Phl 4:15 "Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only."
 

ANGELS!
We all love the idea of angels protecting and saving us. Some religions actually worship angles and pray to them, but we are told not too in
Col 2:17 "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God."
There are many different angels...
Cherubim's- guardians over
Exo 25:19 "And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be."
Seraphim's- fiery serpent and flying one, doing Gods good work
Isa 6:2 "Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. ... 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:"
Satan-"O covering cherub"
Eze 28:16 "By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire."
Rev 12:9 " And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
Satan as a angel of light
2Co 11:14 "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
There are rankings such as Michael the Archangel which means leader.
Jude 1:9 "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."
So, there are many different angels, and we don't worship any of them, no, we worship the one who created them and that is Jesus Christ our Lord!  
 

WAS CHARLIE KIRK SINNING!
I know that this will be an unpopular devotional. Some of you will disagree and some will even unfriend me but I do challenge you to respectfully read and hear what I have to say first and also decern what the scriptures say.  
I do want you to know first of all that I loved Charlie and respected him greatly. I do not write this to disrespect or cause dissension. Regardless of my thoughts here, Charlie's death is a tragedy, and no one deserves to be shot and killed. He was doing what He thought he was supposed to do and my only wish would have been to have someone advise him to change the format and here is why I write this today.
When we read scripture, we see that Paul said to not "debate"...  
Rom 1:29 "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,"
nor "strife" which is the same word in Greek as debate.
Rom 13:13 "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying."
or contentions, which is also the same word in Greek.
1Co 1:11 "For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you."
Again "strife" with other beleievers...
2Co 12:20  "For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:"
"STRIFE" again
Gal 5:20 "Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,"
Some preach Christ out of Strife, did Charlie do this out of ignorance?
Phl 1:15 "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:"
Again STRIFE about words...., teach Jesus out of a proud heart....
1Ti 6:4 "He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,"
"Contentions" same word as debate in Greek...
Tit 3:9 "But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain."
We are to speak with salt which means to bring the gospel of grace to a lost world. We are to speak with love and grace and to draw the lost person to Christ.
Col 4:6 "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."
AND it is God's goodness that brings us to repentance.
Rom 2:4 "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
You see we are not told to debate, stive or have contentions with others especially those who are not believers. This debate and stiving is sin that may masquerade itself in some sort of righteous thinking but really may be stirring the pot of evil and Satan's desire. There is a reason why Paul says Not to do this, right!
Again, I want to say while I respected and even admired Charlie a great deal, but I question and wonder if he stirred up the same type of evil that crucified Jesus and beheaded Paul.  

 

Transformation vs information!
Rom 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
You have heard me say something like this before, but I always think I should say it again in some way. There are those that have a lot of information in their heads and some are right on, and some are WAY off! Some have good info and some have bad info, but info does not save you. There are Catholics, orthodox and protestants that have info in their head and love to debate or argue about it. While this can be important it is not everything. They will talk about justification by faith or works! Or the how the sacraments save you and do we add something or nothing to the salvation process. We must understand that just because you have information does not mean you are transformed spiritually! So one thing is for sure all of us must be transformed or we are still dead in our sin.
Transformation happens the second we are saved. The Holy Spirit enters our spirit, and our spirit is now made alive! Our Spirit has been "transformed"! That is our "Position" has changed spiritually. Our position is now in Christ verses in Adam. Our position is no longer a lost sinner but a secure, sealed Saint in Christ! Our position is in the heavenly places, and we are transformed into a New Creature that is heaven bound!
Then there is what we may say is "progressive" transformation, that is to say our minds and body are being transformed daily as we choose to apply the "Information" from the word on a daily basis. This is where we all struggle. There are many churches and ministers as well as the believers get confused. They think if we struggle or if we sin, we are not saved, or we are lost sinners headed toward hell! This is a false belief and actually is what Satan desires and that is a defeated, struggling doubting believer. Nothing is worse than a true believer walking after the flesh and struggling with their salvation and identity.
Then there is the "Perfect" transformation, and this comes when we enter heaven and we are complete in Christ. When we have passed from this earthly, natural fleshly tent to the glorified, heavenly and spiritual being, which is in heaven with our Lord Jesus. There is no more transformation greater than this and it will be a Glorious Day!!!
So read the word daily and receive the INFO and then apply it to your mind and everyday situations and be TRANSFORMED!
(ps the 3 "P's" are also called the sanctification process)
 

Philemon!
Philemon is a short book but has a lot of powerful things in it! Don't skip on this book because it is short because it actually shows the believer's heart in action.
This book deals with three people. Paul who wrote this book along with Philemon a saved slave owner and Onesimus the slave.
Now Onesimus ran away from Philemon and possibly stole money from Philemon. He didn't run because Philemon was a bad master but rather to be free. While on the run he met Paul and of course Paul shared the gospel with him and he gets saved. Now Paul has to deal with doing what is right with Philemon who Paul also led to Christ. Paul appeals to Philemon. And ask him to forgive and receive Onesimus back as a brother and not as a slave. Appeal means to ask or request WITHOUT demanding it!
Now Roman law says that Onesimus must be put to death and in the "law" Deut. 23:15-16 says to not deliver the slave back to the owner, so you can see Paul was caught in the middle yet handled it perfectly.
Deu 23:15 "Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee: 16 He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him."
The things we can take from this is 1. share the gospel. 2. Forgive and reconcile! 3. Be willing to appeal to authority as Philemon was Onesimus authority. While Paul was Philemon's spiritual authority we could say he still appealed to him to do what was right without demanding it. An example for today could be as I often tell the wife to appeal to your husband first and then if he is willing to hear share your concerns or wishes. If we ALL could learn to appeal to others in general first our conversations, corrections and even rebukes would be accepted much easier.
 

The Great Motivator!
Fear is a great motivator, and the world uses fear all the time. If you look at ads and commercials, you will see Lawyers and insurances using fear to get us to buy their insurance. Lawyers say fear the insurances and get a lawyer but be careful which lawyer you get because they may be a rip you off too. So, which one do you choose and then we fear we may have made the wrong choice.
Fear is death and can drive us if we are not careful, but the GREATEST motivator is LOVE! God's love motivates us to have peace and rest. God's love drives us in the opposite direction of fear. Fear drives, Love rest! Fear steals joy while love gives it! The bible says this about love...
1Jo 4:8 ...for God is love.
1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
... 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Tit 3:4   But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
And there are so many love verses, so look them all up and read them over and over. You see it is God's love that was shown on the cross. It is God's love that comforts us and motivates us to come to Him! Keep renewing your mind over and over and over until you know and feel God's Love for You!
 

TRUST!

In this day and age it is hard to know who to trust. We sometimes have to trust others even when we don't know them. For instance we trust driver's on the freeway to not turn into our lane when we pass them. We trust Doctors to apply medical care without knowing anything about the medicine or procedures. 

 

I have noticed some people trust No one and think everything is a conspiracy theory.  

 

We are asked to believe and TRUST in Jesus death and resurrection. This is all by faith in the scriptures. It is by faith that we put our beliefs, future and hope in Jesus without actually seeing Him.

 

Sometimes we have to trust others and not think everything in Every situation is a conspiracy! Don't be afraid to be real, vulnerable and trust the Lord in others, after all Jesus told Paul that we are...

 

Rom 15:14 "And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another."

Grace to You   

 

ONLY 2!!!
Around the world there is a fight for identity. Are there more than 2 genders? The left-wing politicians and the LGBTQ+ would say of course there are more but there's not! There is ONLY 2, Male and Female! There are many who are trying to find their identity in different ways, but it comes down to how you were born, male or female.
Gen 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
And just like the 2 gender identities that goes on in the world so is there among the saved and unsaved! You see really there are only 2 kinds of people in this world and that is a sinner or saint! Now while we all sin yes, a sinner is an unsaved person in the bible. They are called that because a sinner's spirit is still dead and has no life while a saint is alive spiritually. The saint belongs to God and is a new creature in Christ while the dead unsaved sinner is still in Adam!
1Co 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
BUT YEARE WASHED, BUT YEARE SANCTIFIED, BUT YE ARE JUSTIFIED!!!!
AND
Eph 2:19 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;"
There are only 2 identities in this world, the saved or unsaved, the saint and the sinner! We know we will all die someday and go heaven so let's try to take as many with us as we can!!!  
 

When I hear saints gripping, attacking and putting down our President and leadership it saddens me and hurts the body of Christ. Isn't your sin of disobedience, attacking and public putdowns just as bad as theirs that is if they are sinning.

Not everyone agrees with everything our President or leaders say or do but as believers we are told to subject ourselves and obey them. 

Rom 13:1 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."

 We are told to pray and encourage them.

1 Ti 2:1 "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

 

 We are told to submit and serve, and honor and love them. At times we may have to suffer for doing the right thing just as Christ did.

1 Pe 2:13 "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

You don't have to agree with everything authorities say or do but it is your responsibility what you do with Your tongue and Your heart! Lets not act as the world would but let us behave as true children of God! 

 

    

BIBLES!
Sometimes in life what you start with can make a huge difference. If you start with something faulty the product will be faulty and won't run or look right. If you use the wrong out of date oil filter for your car it will leak or worse ruin your engine.
Well, the same for the Word of God.
There are so many bibles out there today, and we might say which one is the best, and which one should you choose. Now let's start with some facts about bibles and where they came from. The King James Bible is the only bible that comes from the Syrian manuscripts which is where near Israel and were Paul was from. Paul was from Antioch in Syria and that was the launching pad and start of the gentile church we might say. Acts 11:26. ALL of the other modern versions (NASB, NIV, NLT.....)  today come from the Alexandrian manuscripts which is in Egypt. (Now what were they doing down there???)

 

Now much could be said about the changing and tainting of these Alexandian manuscripts and how the invention of the printing press and that the Catholic church could no longer control the word of God and changed it and so on and on...... But let's just look at the differences for now.

In RED is the KJV and in BLUE is the ESV. (the ESV is picked only because it is popular, but all others are the same)
Mar 1:1 "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee."
Mar 1:1 ESV "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,"

Now notice the KJB says in verse 2 "written in the prophets" but in the ESV it says, "written in Isaiah the prophet"! You say SO? What's the big deal, WELL that verse is NOT found in ISAIAH!!! He didn't write it! It's found in Malachi 3:1! So, if it's not found in the right book written by the right prophet somethings wrong RIGHT!
You may say ok, yes that's wrong, but it doesn't change anything in my life. It isn't a salvation issue, well let's look at something that just might be a salvation issue then!!!!!

 

1Co 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
Notice Paul says "unto us which ARE saved"  
Now the ESV

The ESV says, "to us WHO ARE BEING saved"!!!! Are you saved or NOT! Are you BEING SAVED or ARE YOU SAVED? NOW THAT is a BIG difference and YES, it is a salvation issue ISN'T IT!!!

 

You see words are important and there are many, many more words that were taken out or changed or misleading in the more modern bibles. This is a very short way of showing you and hope it helps. I know the KJB at first seems hard to read and understand but it will increase your knowledge and understanding of the WORD OF GOD!
KEEP READING!
 

Gal 6:1 "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
Recently a very prominent pastor's sin caught up with him, and he pleaded guilty and took responsibility for his sin. Yes, it was after the women came forward but when light was shined on him he admitted to his past sins. Now this was some time back when he and she was younger, but it was still sin and in this case a crime.
I think at times we look at these pastors as the worst of the worst. Have you ever compared yourself to other Christians and felt like you just don't measure up to them? OR perhaps the opposite you feel better than them! I think we often look at each other and say to ourselves "my sin is not as bad as theirs" or "they are so wicked", but I wonder how would God look at ours? Is there a difference? Does God see their sin worse than mine or is mine worse than theirs? You see we can get into a blame game situation. We can compare and compare and compare can't we....!
We all sin and we all can be wicked at different times in our lives. The one thing we can do for one another is restore the one who is struggling. We can bear one another's troubles and offences in some way. All believers will sin or go through grief or something at some point in their lives.
Don't shrink in shame and don't be prideful but be meek and remember you too can fall into sin. Bless others by standing beside them and don't be ashamed to ask for help either.
 

SPIRIT-SOUL-BODY!
We are a Spirit, soul and Body creature and while it may seem basic knowledge for some it is not basic doctrine for all. Some churches teach that we a dichotomy meaning two and that being a soul and body only, but as we see in Thessalonians that is not true.
1Th 5:23 "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Now by being a trichotomy we can see that our spirit can be saved in Christ and relate to God as it says in
John 4:24 "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth".
AND that God lives within our spirit.
1Co 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"
Then we also see how the Spirit which houses God can be separated from our soul which is where our mind-will and emotions are. This is how we think and process and how we can "think" sinful thoughts and yet still be saved.
Heb 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
The word of God can cut through and show us our true motives and intentions in our Soul and yet we can still be the child of God who is deeply loved, totally accepted and completely forgiven in CHRIST!!! Praise the Lord you are a Spirit being in an earth suit! Thank the Lord and give Him the glory for saving your spirit and for living within you!
 

THE NEW TESTAMENT!
If you look in most bibles, they will say and start the New Testament before Matthew, but that is not the beginning of the New Testament nor is the New Testament promised to the gentiles.
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
AND
Heb 8:8  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
You see it was promised to Israel and did not start until Jesus died on the cross. How do we know because the New Testament could not start until Jesus the testator died!
Heb 9:15 15 And for this cause he (Jesus) is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
No one gets to inherit the belongings until the person who owns them dies. Your children or grandchildren will inherit your house or things after you die. Now after Christ died the NEW Testament began but it was promised to Israel not to the gentiles. So, when Israel rejected their Messiah, God paused the New Testament and started a NEW CHURCH called the Body of Christ! This NEW CHURCH is a gentile church, and it is full of different blessings than Israels earthly ones. It is filled with all the heavenly and spiritual blessings! We are not under law but grace and free to experience Christ without the customs, sacrifices and traditions of Israel. We are a Body free to move and share without walls and limits! We are able to reach the world free from religious dogma and stifled by legalism. We are Alive and Awake by the Spirit and able to be the ambassadors without title so that we can reach even more for Christ.
Now let us understand and remember the purpose, focus and ministry of the Old, New and Now the Body of Christ!
 

Love, Reprove and Judge!
Jesus told Israel to love your enemies....
Mat 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
This would be a change as the hate to kill and destroy their enemies was so great. We can still receive this message today and that is for us to love our enemies but that does not mean we go sleep in their bed either.
Paul tells us to have no fellowship with these types of people. in fact, he tells us to reprove them which means to correct, admonish or punish. This tells us to discern and separate from them.  
Eph 5:11" And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
1Co 5:11 "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
We are to judge righteously always which means judge the heart and behavior according to the word of God. What are their motives and attitudes and are they perverted and self-centered.
Jhn 7:24 "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."
BUT we are always to love! Love can be harsh enough to separate and gentle enough to pray, desire and preach the gospel at the same time. Love says, "I want what God wants for you!"
Rom 13:8 "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For 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."
One without the other is not love so, let us "LOVE, REPROVE AND JUDGE" like God!
 

THE BLAME GAME!
I have already shared the 3 emotions that go with sin. Shame, guilt and fear but now comes a non-emotional one that we all do because we don't want to take responsibility for our sin, and that is BLAME! We all have played the blame game at some point in our lives. We all have heard the story of the teacher that asked the student why didn't you do your homework, and the student says my dog ate it! He blamed the dog instead of taking responsibility for not doing it. Perhaps you had siblings or friends when you were little, and you were fighting and got in trouble, so you blamed them for starting it.  Another example is when we get married, we get mad at our spouse and blame them for our unhappiness. Wars and discrimination are all excuses to hurt others because they blame the other for something and so we can all play the blame game.
Now as I said above that blaming others means I'm not taking responsibility for my part but sometimes we get upset with ourselves and quick to punish ourselves before someone else does. After all someone has to be punished for this wrong, Right! If it's not, YOU and it has to be ME! So, blaming and punishing go together, and someone has to be punished for their sin and wrongdoing, and this becomes a part of our everyday thinking.
Often, we think God is a mean God and He will punish us for our sins or if something goes wrong in our lives, we think God is punishing us. But once again God had the solution for punishment, and it was taken care of by Jesus! Let's read...  
Rom 3:25 "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"
PROPITIATION is a big word that means to appease God's wrath and to expiate man's sin. In other words, Jesus is the only sacrifice needed for man's sins and has atoned for our sin. Just like the blood of bulls and birds was the blood sacrifice under the old covenant, Jesus has become the ONE sacrifice for sin today! AND not only for ours but for ALL!
1Jo 2:2 "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
(this verse alone should tell Calvinist that Christ died for ALL)
So, there is no longer a need to punish ourselves or others for their sin! God is no longer angry at man and sees His Sons sacrifice for all sin, so then who are we to punish others or ourselves! Don't play the Blame Game we have already won!
 

GUILT!
Oh, how we have such guilt when we sin! This guilt means we have failed, and it can destroy us and drive us into a race that never stops.
When I was growing up, I loved to weight lift and became pretty good. I won some state championships and even won best lifter in the state of Arizona. But I needed to win so bad, and failure wasn't an option. The Olympics was the goal and so I worked even harder, and would lift until my hands bled and my wife would just leave the gym without me at times. You see the race that never stops is the race to succeed because of the fear of failure and desire to gain the praise of man!
Rom 3:19 "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."
You see sin is failure, we are guilty, condemned and we feel guilt when we sin, but God has an answer for sin, guilt and failure. That answer is JUSTIFICATION! Justification means to make righteous and right before God! When we are saved by faith in Jesus's death, burial and resurrection we then are justified spiritually! We are made right and righteous before God by Christ. We are no longer found guilty spiritually and declared acceptable before God. We can no longer fail spiritually because the Holy Spirit lives within us! Spiritually speaking we are whole, perfect and alive! Spiritually speaking we have been made right as we were to be from the beginning before the fall.
Rom 4:25 (Jesus)..."Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."
Rom 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"
We no longer need to be driven nor fear failure for we have already WON! We no longer need the acceptance of man so we can try and experience success and failure in many different avenues because true success is only in Christ!
 

REJECTION!
Continuing with the thoughts of the devotion from yesterday and the 3 emotions +blame. We now come to the fear of rejection. Now we all fear rejection in some form. It has been said that the greatest fear of man is not death but public speaking which is a form of rejection. Whether it is by a spouse or our children or some stranger we all have been rejected in some way. We are often rejected in life by folks we work with or those on the road who honk or give some sort of gesture. Sometimes we just feel down, sad or depressed, and these are all forms of rejection. But the fear of rejection can be harsh and devasting and actually stop us from doing things we would love to do. Perhaps singing or art or even certain jobs. It can stop the creative juices because we fear someone else's opinion of us or our work. There are also those who will say "I don't fear anything" but the bible says otherwise. We might not be scared of a big tough man, but we can fear a little women's tongue!
Now the cure for fear of rejection is found in the Word of God. The Word of God always has the cures for man through the Spirit. The way out of fear of rejection comes through another "R" word, RECONCILIATION! We are reconciled to God through Jesus! Read this from
Romans 5:10 "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
AND FROM
2Cor 5:18 "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."
Because of reconciliation we no longer need to fear God's rejection and if we don't need to fear God's rejection, who cares what man thinks of us! God has brought us near and close to Him by Jesus! God loves us and wants to be with us. God lives within us, and we live in Christ! We are one and therefore no longer need to fear man's opinion of us. You and I are reconciled to God and can now live free to express ourselves without the fear of rejection. Renew your mind in the fact that you are now accepted and reconciled to God and no longer need to fear rejection.
 

Shame!
There are four things or areas that come from Genesis 3. After we sin which is being independent of God and wanting to be our own god is where we see "the sins" of lust and pride flow from. Now out of those "sins" of lust and pride we see the emotions come and they are shame, guilt and fear. Then we also see how Adam blamed God and Eve, so then we also will sin play the "blame game"!
Well let's look at each one of these over the next few devotions. Well lets first look at shame!
Every time we sin there is shame. Now after a while we can become callous to all these emotions but that doesn't mean that shame is not there. Shame is the feeling of embarrassment over our sin. Have you ever noticed that no one walks into church on Sundays and announces their sin this week! In fact, I would bet if we were asked about our sin most of us would either say "oh yes" and when asked what it was, we would say "oh you know general stuff, or I can't remember now". OR the opposite of all that and we would say "NOPE never sinned this week", which is a lie!
NO, shame does affect us to some degree if we are truly saved and sensitive to our sin. Now I'm not saying we should be so ashamed that we are depressed or think of ourselves constantly I'm merely pointing out that we do feel some shame when we sin.
Now the answer to shame is Regeneration! That means that we have been saved and made spiritually alive.
Tit 3:4 "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"
AND
We are a NEW CREATURE! We are no longer our past sins and no longer need to walk in shame!
2Co 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Yes, we need to be honest with ourselves and admit our sin and feelings of shame and then renew our minds, walk by faith and not feel shame. After all, if God has made you New and doesn't see your sin and only sees our Lord Jesus then why should we walk in shame!
 

FOR THE GRACE OF GOD!
Titus 2:11 "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;"
For the Grace of God has COME! While most believers believe that the grace of God only deals with them and their personal sin, but it is so much more than that. The grace of God is actually the act of God toward the gentile world the enemy of God.  It means that God in His Sovereign wisdom and power decided He would save the gentile world regardless of Israel's rebellion. Israel rejected their King and Messiah and was put to the side without any spiritual influence anymore. Their loss became the gentile's gain! We gained a way to salvation through Jesus Christ! By Jesus works on the cross, God now offered salvation by His blood to a lost and perverted world. He didn't have to grace us, but He did! He didn't have to offer eternal life, but He did! He didn't have to BUT HE DID!!!!
So, Paul says the grace of God that bring the SALVATION hath appeared to ALL MEN! Now it is NOT just through Israel but to ALL! (This also kicks in the teeth of those Calvinist who say Jesus only died for some but not all!)
This GREAT GRACE that brings salvation then teaches us to say NO to ungodliness and lusts! So many legalists think that those who teach the grace message are saying "ok then you can go and sin all you want" but that is NOT what grace teaches at all! The grace of God that brings salvation also says to abstain from sin. It says to keep receiving and walk faithfully and to say NO to our fleshly behavior. It also says when we do sin to come back by renewing our minds and be refreshed by God's Love. To renew our minds and continue to be transformed! By renewing the mind and being refreshed and always receiving from God we can live soberly, righteously and godly in the present world!
Oh, Saints never ever forget this GREAT GRACE that GOD has done so that we may be saved and secure and live righteously in Christ!
 

I once had a guy tell me he didn't fear anything and I said he was a liar, WHY, because we ALL have fears. At times we may not fear death because we know we are going to heaven yet somedays and maybe for a brief second, we just might fear death. We might not fear death all the time but fear the pain, or physical things we may go through. Fear is natural to the flesh. Adam feared in the garden and ever since then fear has been a part of man.Ever since Adam man has been born in sin and in bondage to fear.

Rom 8:15 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

The word Fear is in the bible from Genesis to Revelation! We may not fear death, but we can fear failure, rejection or punishment in some form.

I have many big, tough men who are not afraid to fight another man but be afraid of his 5' 100-pound wife rejection! He doesn't want to go home because he's afraid she will yell at him or reject him in some way. He may be a bull at times but be a little emotional worm also!

Paul tells us that God did not give a spirit of fear and 1John tell us that fear has to do with...

1Jo 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

TORMENT! Torment is anything and everything that has to do with death! All sin is death and rejection, failure, punishment! all feel like death!

The good thing is that John gives us the remedy to fear also! "There is no fear in love" and in

1Jo 4:8 "...for God is love."

The LOVE of GOD who is LOVE, takes away fear! ALL fear! All rejection, failure and punishment! We no longer need to worry about others rejection because God loves us. We no longer need to fear failure because He has made us acceptable in Him! We are reconciled to God through Christ and therefore never need to fear being punished by Him!

So just be honest with yourself when you fear and remember that God's love is the answer that renews, refreshes and restores our thinking!

WHO ARE YOU! Knowing who you are gives you meaning and meaning gives you purpose! If you are married with kids than you have a purpose and that is to raise up, provide for and protect your wife and children. As a wife and mother you are to help, respect and support your husband and also train and nurture the children. If your profession is a Doctor of Medicine than your meaning is to take care of the sick and try to comfort them while trying to heal their ailments.

Well, we all may have different family, professions and work but as believers we are all in the same boat when it comes to "who we are in Christ"! Here in Romans, we see a number of identities that the believer is after being saved.  

First, we must know that we are in Christ, and that we are God's sons and daughters! We are adopted and therefore we are His children and belong to God!  Therefore, we no longer need to fear and long for a father who will love and protect us but now we belong to God the protector, comforter and creator of the universe! We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus. That means everything that He Is and Has Is ours as well! We have everything in heaven just as Christ has now!

You no longer need to fear rejection and strive for purpose for you already are blessed and belong to God! Be thankful and give God the Glory!

Jesus loved the church, and He loves you and me! He is the church, and he loves all those who belong to Him. He wants the church to know Him as well as to walk by faith. He wants us to walk righteously and godly and that comes from the word. He washes the church with the Word of truth which builds us up in knowing Him.

Well one of the things He compares a marriage to is the church, the Body of Christ. When we get married, we are one and one in Him! We are to build one another up and the best way to do that is read the Word together. I teach every husband that comes for counseling to read the bible to their wives daily. We should read to our wives and kids daily and teach them the bible and doctrine that Paul has given us.

Some husbands may say "well I don't know the bible as well as my wife"! Well, that's ok I guarantee that if you're willing to read and learn she will be willing to listen, and you will catch up quickly to her understanding. I tell husbands the most intimate thing you can do for her is read the word to her. So read and study and before long you will have washed your wife and kids with the everlasting, eternal Word of Life!

I often read or hear from folks who say that everyone is forgiven and now all they need is faith! Well, the bible says that the wrath of God is against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men!

Jesus did pay the price for all sin and therefore man could be forgiven through Christ works on the cross, but it must be appropriated by faith alone!

That means if you are not saved then you will Not be forgiven, and His wrath is against you! There is NO such thing as universal salvation or forgiveness! God doesn't send people to hell for what they did do but He will for what they DID NOT do and that is proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord!

Act 26:18 "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

Just like the Calvinist who misuse the word "ALL" so do the universal salvation and forgiveness folks!

Remember the word says...

Rom 14:23 "...for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

 

"I am Jesus..." Jesus replied! Jesus is Lord and that makes Him our master!

Paul was an enemy of Christ and tried to bring down the church. He was there and instigated the stoning of Stephen, but the second he called Jesus Lord, he had submitted to Him. Paul was saved and called himself a servant of Jesus, which means a slave of Jesus...

Rom 1:1 "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,"

Now I don't really understand the Lordship salvation thing very well. Many stand against it but to me if you believe and trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ then you are saved and therefore He is your Lord and He is both our Lord and Saviour.

Tit 1:4 "To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour."

Now our salvation is complete and from then on nothing can take that away. Now perhaps I am too simple minded to understand it differently, but it would also seem to me that He is our Lord over every area of our lives. Now everyone has 5 areas Spiritual, psychological, physical, social and financial! The other 2 areas are something we can choose to be a part of if we want and that is the marital and parental areas and making 7 areas.

1Th 3:10 "Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?"

Now in each of these 7 areas in some way we may sin, lack in and walk fleshly in. For instance, spiritually we need to renew our minds daily so that we walk by faith. Now let's say in the financial area we are not very good with our finances and tend to blow our money. We spend money on ourselves without thinking about our family, future and things that bring us pleasure more than being responsible with our money. We don't save, give and in debt to the point of great bondage! So, I ask you is that what our Lord would want of us, of course not!  So, what do we do well we first should be honest with ourselves and God. Then we begin to walk by faith and save and give. We begin to get out of debt and bondage to others. If we need too, we can ask for help and guidance how to do this in the most efficient way. This is what I think Paul was talking about when he encourages the older men and women to guide and teach the younger. Although there are many older folks that need taught and help also.

We are not saved by some cleaning up ourselves first but after we are saved, by faith we will want to clean up our sinful fleshly habits and areas that are still lacking. This is not necessarily a work to be saved or an obedient thing to be good enough, approved or accepted by God although we are being obedient at the same time. We are already free in Spirit so let us also be in Soul and Body and therefore let us live in that freedom in every area of life!

Sadly, Charlie Kirk was assassinated this last week and was a great voice for common sense, conservatives and God! So many are honoring him as I too have honored him BUT he is not Jesus! I believe even Charlie would say to stop the overuse or misuse of his name. We do want to keep praying for his family, friends and co-workers and that his work would continue.

One of the reasons for that is that we tend to worship what or who we can see! As humans we often worship what we can see and touch but that does not take faith. Charlie was a man, yes, a good man and a righteous man in Christ but just a man.

Remember to give Jesus the honor, praise and glory He deserves while walking by faith.

Just like Charlie did we too should want to say...

2Ti 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"

I often think of the great actor Spencer Tracy and Kathren Hepburn who were not married and lived together and had a 26-year affair but did not marry because Spencer and his wife were Catholic and that was against the church! They didn't mind the fornication and adultery, but getting a divorce was a BIG NO-NO!

This is a subject that is very controversial in the church, but it shouldn't be. The bible talks a lot about marriage and how to treat one another in marriage.

Under Jesus earthly ministry to Israel, he used the law because they were under law and misusing it. He said that divorce was wrong, and they should not do it except for adultery which is the way most believers today see it. They were getting a divorce for just about anything so they could do whatever they wanted which was usually to be with another women.

BUT NOW and today we are not under the law, and we can get divorced and remarried. Now that doesn't mean it's a good  thing or an easy thing but an allowable thing.

1Co 7:15 "But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace."

Now many will say it says if the "unbelieving depart" in other words one who is unsaved, but the word tells us often that believers and unbelievers often act the same. A fleshly believer looks and behaves just like an unbeliever, and we are to separate from both at times. In other words, if a believer wants to divorce then let them go and live in peace!

I see so many that divorce especially young folks and then spend the rest of their lives without someone only because they follow the law and think they can't remarry. They don't rightly divide the word and they put themselves back under the law!

Now let me say that divorce is never a good thing or an easy thing and may not be the best thing to do!... and by the way the sin is not divorce but an unfaithful heart to begin with, first to God and then to the spouse! Usually both are unfaithful and selfish in many different ways. But remarriage is allowed and if young perhaps the best thing to do.

Let me also say that biblical Christian counseling can be of great benefit and help those struggling. If you need help or know someone that does encourage them to get counseling. It can come from the church, pastor or some counseling center outside of church, but I encourage you to check and make sure they are a biblical Christian Counseling ministry and not someone who just says that. A few ways to make sure if it is legit is to check if they charge, a ministry does not charge. they may take donations, but they don't charge an hourly rate. Another thing to look out for is do they tend to use titles like Dr. or master's degrees before their names which can indicate they have a more worldly counseling philosophy rather than a biblical one. Also check to see if they are married, single or even homosexual as I know of some who promote they do Christian counseling but are homosexuals. That is just a few things to look at before going to one.

I hope this devotion helps someone in some way.

with Christ love,

1Ti 5:1 "Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; 2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. 3 Honour widows that are widows indeed."

There are 4 types of people here in 1 Tim 5. The elder which are older men, and then younger men and then elder or older women and younger women.

Now some, either old or young have become widows and they are to be honored, which means to revere or value. They should not be shunned as so many societies have done in the past. Some even kick them out to die a very lonely death.

When I think about the policemen, firemen, military and even Charlie Kirks families who will no longer get see them on this side of heaven it breaks my heart. I have so much sympathy for them and what they will have to deal with for the rest of their lives. Many times, these children and wives struggle with depression, anxiety, alcohol or drugs. Some seek affection and attention from unhealthy relationships forever.

Let us pray for all of those widows who struggle with so much and be willing to help when we can. Remember that in many cases the financial issue is mounted on top of the grief! Pray for their children and even those widowers who perhaps lost their wives as well.

Twenty-four years ago, we were attacked by those who would want to destroy our nation! Twenty-four years ago, Christianity and democracy was attacked but they did not win and never will!

Yesterday a man shot and killed a young leader! Charlie Kirk was a voice that stood for Godly values and democracy. He was only 31 but in those 31 short years he was strong and bold in his conviction of Jesus Christ. He will be missed.

Now we don't need to take vengeance or be scared. God is the only one who can take vengeance and that wrath will be against all ungodliness of men. Now that will come and it will seem horrific, but it didn't happen twenty-four years ago nor yesterday!

Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Rom 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"

The wrath of God will come but it won't be against you! For you are His and You are righteous in spirit.

1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

THEREFORE

1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Don't walk in fear for you belong to God! Regardless of what happened twenty-four years ago or even what happened yesterday to Charlie Kirk we can find comfort in Christ alone!  

This best describes religious people. Jesus was talking about the religious folks of Israel who did all the ceremonial traditions and things, but their heart was far from Him!

Mat 13:15 "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

Mat 15:8 "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."

Today this can describe those in the Catholic community as well as the pew sitting protestant. The Catholic tends to "DO" all kinds of works and sacraments to gain approval from God while the protestant does nothing, but both can be spiritually dead. They go to church and listen to a sermon, but they are not alive spiritually and their life does not reflect a true conversion. Notice even before the cross and before the Spirit given to the gentiles that Jesus says they should be "converted". That means a true genuine sincere belief in Him alone! A totally dedicated life in Christ and a spiritual birth as well as a New Spiritual Creation that is alive in Him. Unless there is a converted, regenerated spirit the person is still lost! This person is still dead in spirit regardless of how many sacraments, hail Mary's or water baptisms they do!!!

Be glad you are "converted" and made New! Give God the praise and give thanks to our Lord Jesus!

Wrecks are no fun, and I recently was in one. I was stopped at a light and the car hit me from behind. Neither of us were hurt but I had to go through the long process of insurance and getting car fixed. Now I hadn't been in any car wreck for years, and I mean like 25 years or more, but it made me think for sure. I am more cautious and highly aware of things around me. Wrecks have a way of making us more vulnerable and fearful but also alert to things.  

We can do the same thing with our spiritual life also. Things happened and we run to God! Our health deteriorates and we run to Jesus, or some relationship goes bad, and we become much more faithful it seems and wanting to stay that way, and that is all good.

By the way look at Paul's "wrecks"...

2Co 11:24 "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;"

But then we drive for a while, and we have no accidents, and we begin to relax and then we are back to our normal way of driving, Right! And just like being back to normal driving we can go back to our normal spiritual life. We can become less in tune with Christ and begin to drift in faith. We don't read the word as much or go to church as much. We begin to be de-synthesized a little at a time.

I want to encourage you to not do that! In fact, in some ways, we can be thankful for that "wreck" in our lives! It can encourage us to not lose that dependency on Christ. So be thankful, stand strong Walk by Faith!

Gen 3:1 "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

The serpent which is Satan began a conversation with Eve. Eve should have never engaged with him, but she did and began to be tricked and deceived.

2Co 11:3 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

Now the bad part about being deceived is that you don't know how deceived you are until after you've already been deceived! OOPS! Thats why it is called deceived and this is how Satan operates and how so many dear saints are deceived into many different beliefs.

2Ti 3:13 "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."

We can become more deceived by evil men who keep on deceiving us! There are so many people in life that may deceive us. We have our parents at home, who may try their best, yet be deceived themselves and teach not only by word but by their actions. As the old saying goes more is "caught " than "taught"! We then have the church and pastor's beliefs and doctrines, and then our leaders in government who may mislead us.

Often, we find out what we thought was true from childhood wasn't until we are much older, even near our later years. But the important part is that we learn from them and put into practice the truth that frees us from such bondage.

All deceit is false and therefore keeps us in bondage. And ALL have a hint of law behind them. Sometimes it is masquerade as liberty, but it will always be a tangled web that keeps in bondage to someone or something.

Gal 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

Don't be deceived, Gods love never traps us nor keeps us under bondage but always gives the liberty to live life freely in Christ!

Anytime we talk about Grace it may seem and feel so warm and cozy like, but I wanted to share why I call the devotions "Grace" devotions or really "Todays Grace"! You may read and think it is supposed to be about how we receive God's grace every time we sin which is the normal way believers see it and therefore you "feel" good, but what it really means from my standpoint is the "time frame" and the dispensing of God's Grace IS for Today! We are living in what is called the dispensation or time that God has offered salvation to the gentiles and this is His Grace toward a lost world.

Eph 3:1 "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:"

God was working through the nation of Israel, and they were to be a nation of priest who evangelize the gentile world, but they failed. They had laws and works to do along with Temple worship and priest, but the gentile world had none of these things. Perhaps it should be said they had none of these things that were to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! They had idols and temples, but they worshipped other gods and idols.

So, after Israel rejected Jesus God raised up another Apostle called Paul and sent him and gave him the doctrine for the gentile church. Therefore, TODAY'S GRACE is coming from Paul's books to the gentile world. It is not always that warm and "feel" good message, but it is within the doctrine and dispensation of grace for Today!

Read Paul's books over and over until they become second nature and then you can understand and discern the difference between law and GRACE!

The Sabbath started in Genesis and means holy rest.

Gen 2:2 "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."

It was used as early as Exodus 16 but put into law in "Exodus 20:8 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."

Now we always need to keep in mind that the law was given to Israel. Gentiles never had the law and were told not to "do' the law.

Rom 2:14 "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Act 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:"

Paul told the church in Corinth to meet on the first day of the week

Act 20:7 " And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

And to give when they come together on the first day of the week

1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."

Now a sabbath day is no longer needed but a Holy Rest IS! That Holy Rest comes through Jesus, and it is a Spiritual, mental and emotional rest we receive daily!

Heb 4:4 "For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus (Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."

"Let us labor to enter that rest" meaning when we go through trials and fear and anxiety comes it will be hard, so we need to labor to walk by faith, renew our minds and REST IN CHRIST!  

So, when you hear people say that we should keep the sabbath "day" and want to put you back under law, you just tell them I have a Holy Rest within me DAILY and HIS NAME IS JESUS!!!

Do we take things literally or not from the bible?  This is always a debate and when or which verses do we take things literally or not.  Well, I believe we should take the things that are easy to understand literally but the things which are Obviously not we don't. Discernment and a common-sense type of thing that needs to be considered. For example, Jesus said this in

John 10:7 "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep."

Did Jesus just become a door, NO of course not. He meant He was the opening or the one to go through in order to be saved.

How about this one

Mat 18:8 "Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire."

By this verse if we took it literally, we would have a world of one armed and no feet folks wouldn't we!

How about this one which Catholics so miss interpret,

Jhn 6:35 "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. ... 48 I am that bread of life. ... 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."

Did Jesus literally become bread? No!!! And were they to literally Eat His flesh and drink His blood? NO, NO, NO!!!

One more and another one that's get twisted is the idea that Peter was the first Pope. Well, if you take that literally because Jesus said I give you the keys (which He did't) then you have to take this one literally too, RIGHT!!!

Mat 16:23 "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."

Did He just call the "Pope" SATAN!!!!!! Well yes, He did but was Peter really Satan? NO of course not!

Peter went on to have a fine ministry serving the circumcision as Paul served the gentile church! Don't take things so literal that you blow things out of proportion and are unscriptural! All of these type of things can be straightened out if we would discern, use common sense and simply "rightly divide" the Word of truth!!!!

I don't know about you, but I am not the most longsuffering person, just ask Robin, Ha!  Longsuffering is not a word we use today but, in the bible, it is used a lot.

Long suffering means to be patient, forbear and slow to take vengeance. It means to endure and be steadfast in faith or learning things. It means to keep trying over and over to grow in grace and love!

While some people are naturally longsuffering, we all have our limits, but longsuffering or patience comes from the Spirit.

Gal 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith..."

The fruit of the Spirit is Love and love is longsuffering. Love is patient just as God is patient with us.  

1John 4:8 "...for God is love."

1Cor 13:4 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,"

Now Longsuffering doesn't mean we don't discipline, rebuke or correct others but rather in that discipline and correcting we wait patiently for them to learn and grow in Christ. Just like when we train and discipline our children but always, we love and wait patiently for them to make right choices and mature into adulthood.  

Rest in the love of God and you will grow in being longsuffering. Allow the Spirit to comfort you daily and then allow the Spirit to comfort others through you!

Back in the 60's the thing to say was "the man" meaning the government. Often, we hear today that "the system" doesn't work. That system may be governmental, or judicial or even in church! A system can be built out of anything really for instance when things in church become a tradition instead of a working of the Spirit.

Catholics do this with so many things but so do protestant churches. Something comes from the bible so then they make it a mandatory, traditional or sacrament thing. They make it bigger than it was intended to be. Just like Eve in the garden said to the serpent "we may not "touch" the fruit" which God never said to do in the first place

These "things" become a system and take our eyes and heart off the cross. This system becomes the focal point instead of Christ! Steven stood up to "the system" that Israel had made in which it was no longer about Jesus but about "doing" some "work" or some "religious" thing. It "looks" spiritual and humble, but it is really false humility and man's way of trying to be saved, cleansed and accepted and NOT the way Jesus intended it to be. It is false humility and self-righteousness! Notice in Acts what Steven calls Israel. He calls them stiffnecked, which is prideful and uncircumcised which means they have a hard, unrepentant and unfaithful heart! Now see the reaction of Christ toward Israel! WOW!!!

Act 7:51 "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."

JESUS STANDS UP and that is a sign of "ENOUGH"! A sign of protest against them! He has had ENOUGH!

Now because of this we now see the beginning of the transition from Israel to gentiles, from law to grace, from Peter to Paul! God is so loving and beautiful that instead of shutting down the world because of Israel's rebellion He turns to the enemies of Israel and offers them salvation by Grace.

We too can set and have our own "systems" sometimes. We think we must read the bible at this exact time or pray the same prayer, or it just becomes routine with our spiritual life! Discipline is good but not at the point of making it a law, tradition or system. Be aware and change if you need to but stay disciplined and faithful!

Faith is an interesting thing. Jesus could do no might work or miracles because of their unbelief it says. I don't believe that he "couldn't" but rather He "wouldn't" do them because He wanted them to believe first.

Mar 6:4 "But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching."

Many today want to be healed but they don't want Jesus! The pray for relief from their pain and suffering but they don't want Jesus! They want money or power and acceptance, but they don't want Jesus! They want to live selfishly and have the freedom to do whatever they want without the repercussions, but they don't want Jesus!!!

Today we live in a different time then Jesus earthly ministry to Israel. Then it was about healing and proving who He was but now we know Who He is, and so faith is the only thing we need. Jesus died on the cross and rose again to give life! We are saved by faith, and we continue to grow by faith. We spread the good gospel by faith and hope others will receive by faith!

Today may You Stand, Walk and Live BY FAITH IN JESUS!!!

There are a lot of churches in the bible. Church means assembly or congregation as it is written in Hebrew under the Old Covenant. There is the church in the wilderness, ...

Act 7:38 "This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:"

The church at the Temple which is Israel's Kingdom church.

Act 5:42 "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

And then there is the church today called the Body of Christ.

Eph 1:22 "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

1Co 12:27 "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."

Now this last church called the Body of Christ has no walls, no boundaries, no one particular leader other than Paul and it does not have any ordinances or sacraments to do. The only Law is love and salvation is by grace through faith alone. It is primarily a gentile fellowship while accepting Jews the same away gentiles come to Christ by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is NOT and I repeat, Peter's church nor is it the Roman Catholic church! This Church has no name in particular, except the Body of Christ! This church is built on THE ROCK that is Christ alone!

1Co 10:4 "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."

You are "IN" the church so go fellowship with joy and likeminded saints that are truly in The CHURCH called CHRIST!!!

I have watched some of the great boxers of our time and perhaps none as brutal as Mike Tyson in his prime. Then there is Ali to whom I have no respect for, but he was a great boxer. But I'm not so sure neither one of these boxers can match the courage or greatness as Paul. Perhaps even sadder is that for all the fights they had they can still be insecure, unsaved and hell bound.

2Ti 4:6 "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"

All of us will die this is just the way it is but have you fought the Good Fight of faith! Have you kept the faith? Paul continued to fight the fight even while he was in prison and knowing that he would soon be killed for his belief.

I can't say that I am always that bold or courage's. I hope when that day comes, I can say I fought the good fight!

Paul then says he knows what is laid up for him, and if we too have fought that fight of faith and finished the course that we also will have that crown of righteousness! Notice who gives the crown, Jesus our Lord! Amen!

8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

1Co 1:22 "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;"

If you observe today's churches, they desire to see signs! They point to "doing" something in order to get something or show something. They want you to jump through this hoop to see if you will really obey God and if you don't you must not be saved. They want you to do this ordinance or that tradition. I even heard a guy on a radio ministry say that Jesus is a King, so we are called to obey Him and if we don't, we are committing treason and deserve death, WOW! Now Jesus is King of kings but if not doing what He says is sin, which it is, then don't we all deserve death and if so, what was the point of the cross!!!!

No jumping through the hoops to "show" if we are a Christian is the exact opposite of what we are told to do now. Notice what happens when we fall into that trap.

1Co 1:17 "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."

The CROSS BECOMES OF NO EFFECT!!! In other words, at one time "DOING" Something, Anything, became a sign to show WHO you were following but now we show our faith by allowing the Spirit to work through us and fruits come from the SPIRIT not US!

How many times have you seen someone get water baptized just to live a fleshly life! How many Catholics, Baptist or any other denomination for that matter get water baptized yet live a very ungodly sinful lifestyle! You see it is not outward signs but inward transformation that Jesus desires.

Don't get caught up in performance and "doing" things which are only signs and show off your wisdom, but rather

LIVE AND WALK IN THE SPIRIT!!!

Gal 5:25 "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

There are Pro's in sports and other fields that get paid and then there are amateurs who are not paid. In golf one of the greatest golfers of all time was a amateur called Bobby Jones. He beat most if not all the pros of his time and won all four majors of his time.

Now Pros are supposed to be "better" than amateurs. The so-called pros in scripture were the Pharisees. They knew all the traditions and law and the amateurs were the 12 apostles who were worked with their hands for the most part. But as we see Jesus picked and taught them to the point they "beat" the pros!

Act 4:13 "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."

Unlearned and ignorant means not educated at least compared to the Pharisees, but they would win the race of faith! They did not graduate with a doctor or master's degree in theology! They did not charge for their services or receive huge amounts of money.

Now that sounds great, but I have also seen Iin today's times were the "amateurs" meaning the ones who are not in vocational ministry "THINK" they know more than the "pros" meaning the pastors or teachers! They act and talk and even belittle the pastor/teacher. They speak as if they are the "pros" but little do they know that they are JUST like the "pros" of Jesus time! THEY are just like the Pharisees which were full of pride and arrogance!

So, it doesn't matter if you are a "pro" or a "amateur" pride can affect both!

Be humble, gentle and patient when dealing with others.

The only habitual habit you need while being saved is the habit of LOVE!

I love this old Covenant illustration of faith! In these days of the false prosperity and name it and claim preaching it is good to hear this message again. The faith and devotion of these men were so great that we can always look up to them and get encouragement.

Notice the first part says "Our God whom we serve is able"...! They knew that the God who created All things was "ABLE" to deliver them.

Dan 3:16 "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

Now that is faith! Here they are about to be burned to death and saying, "My God is Able"! This is how we should think because unlike them we DO know that Jesus is able! That He has already done the work! We KNOW that Jesus has already died for our sins and already resurrected to justify and give us eternal life! We KNOW that He is MORE than ABLE because He has already shown us!!!

but then the 2nd part is even more important. Read on...

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

"BUT IF NOT", meaning if God chose NOT to save them that they would still serve Him! WOW! Can you say that? Do YOU still serve Jesus regardless of and if your prayer is not answered the way you want?

To add what they are really saying is that either way they know they will be delivered! How you ask? They know that they will be eternally delivered, just as Paul says in

Rom 14:8  "For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's."

They understood this verse and we should have this thinking also! Paul also says this

Phl 1:21 "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

Let us serve the Lord Jesus no matter what the circumstances after all it is always a WIN-WIN for us!

My dad was so good with his hands that he not only knew how to fix things he could make things. He could design and see how to make things work, and even do art. You see he applied what he knew and what he could see in his mind and make it.

Well like all things in life there is a difference between knowing something and applying it. You may know things from the Word but are you applying it and do you know when you're not, which may be the bigger problem.

I once knew a lady that came for counseling, and she knew a great deal of the bible, but she could never apply it to her life as she lived in constant fear and always desired to be loved. She couldn't get past the words to the power and freedom those words give. Many years later I found out she committed suicide and had left a husband and kids.

You see if I asked her who she was in Christ she knew the answer, but it was just words she memorized she didn't apply it to her life. She knew God loved her!  

Eph 2:4 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us..."

AND she knew the words that she was complete in Christ....

Col 2:10 "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"

But it wasn't enough for her. She denied in a sense the power of those words which sets us free. Memorizing and knowing is the first step and an important point but it is NOT the last step nor the most important step. Applying and resting in His love and knowing you are complete and needing nothing else is more important! It is walking by faith in a real, genuine and sincere way to what the word says that is so vital. Truely, we need to study and apply as we walk by faith in what we do know!

Lastly do you know when you are not applying it? Well, that is so important too as we go through life we slip up and sin. We start walk by sight and not by faith. We begin to be independent of God and act as we were before we were saved. We can be controlling and independent of others. We can set standards and judge others. So, we need to recognize our sin which means we are not applying what we know by faith!

Knowing AND applying is important so take the time to reflect on your life as you study the word!  

I gave a ride to a 81-year-old lady today and she had the greatest attitude. She said she woke up today and that was great and then she said but if I hadn't that would be even GREATER!  This lady had a great attitude, and she was so full of life. You see her attitude was that if she lived great but if she died even better, for she knew where she was going. Paul says something like that in

Phl 1:21 "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

We are to have a grateful and joyful attitude! Paul says this in

Phl 3:1 "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe."

To write the same thing means he said it before, so he told them keep doing it.

AND THEN  

Phl 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."

Paul tells us to REJOICE which means to be joyful, happy and glad! It means to not carry around the burdens of the world and know that Christ has carried out the greatest burden of all! It means to be joyful in all circumstances and of course this is not easy for us but if we stop and think about the circumstances, we see that the worse thing is death and IF the person is a believer than they are in the GREATEST JOYFUL PLACE OF ALL!

So have a JOYFUL attitude and be grateful and REJOICE IN JESUS TODAY!!!

Jesus said that God the Father would send the comforter! The Comforter is the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost.

John 14:26 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

Now the Holy Spirit comes into our spirit and gives life! The Spirit lives within us.

1Co 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

AND

Rom 8:11 "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 dwelleth in you."

AND that we are one with the Lord!  

1Co 6:17 "But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit."

AND Children of God by the Spirit!

Rom 8:16 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"

The GREAT Comforter lives and gives us peace and joy and love!

Gal 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith..."

The Holy Spirit, which is God, lives within you and comforts you with His love, peace and power. Don't strive but rest in knowing that you are made complete in Christ by the Holy Spirit! THAT is a done deal for you are sealed in Him by the Holy Spirit!

Eph 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"

I often read or hear folks say "a real Christian won't sin" or ask "can you be a Christian and still sin" well the answer is yes! Paul says this in  

Rom 7:14 "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."

You see we all sin even Paul admits to still sinning, it is a part of our flesh or human part of us. So, you might ask what the difference between a lost person who sins and a believer that sins. Well for one the unbeliever is dead spiritually, so they are IN sin and being independent of God. They have NO relationship with Christ. The unbeliever has no remorse or guilt per say. They may think that it is wrong to do something, but their conscience is dull or callous to sin and to Christ therefore they do NOTHING or worse they try to fix it themselves only to sin again in another way!

But the believer feels sorrow, guilt and shame for what they have done. They truly desire not to sin and want to walk by faith. They repent meaning they have a change of mind, from flesh to faith, from self to Christ! They hate what they did and run to Christ. Christ becomes the focal point, and they are grateful for His forgiveness, love and acceptance. They admit and are humbled verses being proud of their sin.

Now Paul goes on to say this  

....24 "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."

Never forget that sin has been dealt with on the cross and it is Jesus who has delivered you and not yourself. Don't try to fix the fix that Jesus has already fixed!

Could you imagine being married for 50 years and only saying I love you on your anniversary. You could say "it is our tradition" to do that, but I bet the wife would love to hear it a little more often than once a year wouldn't you think. Well, that's how we sometimes think as people and churches.

Often believers and churches have certain traditions. Even if it is a new church the pastor will often carry traditions from his upbringing or old church. Now I have stated over and over from Colossians 2 that there are no traditions or ordinances from the bible to do anymore yet we may often find ourselves stuck in Our Own traditions.

These traditions we have can look like we have only 4 songs at the beginning of our morning service, or I have to sit in MY seat that I have set in for years. Perhaps another tradition is that your church parking lot needs to change but no one wants to change it because it has been dirt since the church started 100 years ago!

Being stuck in tradition can stifle many things and none of it is good. The only tradition we want to be stuck in is our faith in Christ and love toward one another. Sometimes changing things around brings new growth and excitement to relationships and a church.

Col 1:4 "Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,..."

Perhaps you or your church should change some traditions, and it starts with our attitude. Christ first no matter what the circumstances are and loving others a close 2nd!

2Ti 3:1 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,..."

For many this means we are in the last days. They think of the tribulation period in fact some think we are already there  but I disagree. One reason I disagree is that the resurrection or the rapture has not come yet as mentioned in

1Thes 4:13-18 and Paul mentions and rejected 2 people in 2 Tim 2:17-18

No, I think these are the last days before then, but either way it sure seems like we are there. The world has become much more self-centered in ways. People are lovers of self and covetous which it means here to be extremely greedy for wealth. Even evangelist are so greedy and into making more and more. I heard a famous T.V. evangelist the other day say he needed another Jet which cost a crazy amount, and he already has 2 or 3. He also was boasting in being rich (off the backs of others giving mind you) and even used scripture to justify it. SELF, SELF, SELF!!! Even His wife who was sitting next to him was embarrassed and tried to change the subject.

I praise God for Bi vocational pastors and others in ministry that do not steal or put pressure on the Body to give all the time. While giving is good and necessary it is not to be used to pressure the Body to give to get!

I encourage you to read the rest of this chapter starting in verse 3 but I like what Paul says in verse 5

... 5 "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

From such TURN AWAY!!!! To turn away means to separate from, to not associate with them. Paul often tells us to separate from those who are self-centered and cause problems or argumentative. Those that are not humble and will not take correction. I believe the church is weak in this, and it is the reason why the church has such weakness and is not as an influence in the world. If the church looks like the world, then the world has no respect nor desire to change!

Take note and be aware of the world as well as your family and friends and church Body and be willing to teach and correct or separate from them.  

2 Tim 2:22 "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes."

We see 3 F words here that are good for us to know.

The First F is FLEE!

Flee youthful lust is a way of saying flee or don't lust or sin. Run from it as much as possible. When we were young, we were dumb, and we just went were our flesh desired without thinking about it. Most of us were not saved when we were young, so we were driven by our flesh. Now we're not talking perfectionism here we are just talking about trying not to sin as much as we can, but when you do ALWAYS remember you have THE advocate, Jesus and HIS work on the cross that has taken that sin! Go to Him in prayer and just be honest with Him and thank Him for His forgiveness. Now confession doesn't save you it is just relating to God after all HE already knows you sinned, right!

The second F word is to FOLLOW! Flee then Follow and if possible, always FOLLOW FIRST! That means on a daily basis follow righteousness which is something so many Christians don't understand. Their grateful that they are forgiven but then they think that means to live however they please and continue in that youthful lust.  Follow faith, charity which is love and peace! Notice that righteousness is first not love or faith. Now it takes faith, and we should love but both lead to righteousness.

And the last F word is FOOLISH! Now it is Foolish to get caught up in questions that are not going to edify anyone. The question that is not sincere or just brings more ungodliness. The word "unlearned" means rude or stupid. So many want to ask questions that really are really about doubt and unfaithfulness. These questions usually come from Unbeliever's, and they are just taunting the believer. Most of the time no matter how you answer the question they won't believe.

So, Flee, Follow and avoid Foolish questions and people!

Grace to You all!

Years ago, when I use to own a gym and compete in weightlifting, I also worked at a sky resort in Colorado. In the summertime we would work on the lifts and change out the cables and sheaves if needed. Well one time we had the whole crew working and we all had to pull and lift this huge cable. At one point we took a break and rested and while talking someone brought up how much could I squat with the bar. Well, I said, which at that time was probably around 500 lbs without wraps and without a suit and go all the way down and stop. Well, there was a local guy who always had to top and "ONE-UP" everyone, so he said he did 600 lbs. Well, I knew that was I lie so I played his game and said Well I really did 700 lbs and the rest of us were laughing and waiting for him to ONE -UP IT to 800 lbs which he did, and of course I knew that was I lie also because the world record was around that. So, I told him he was one of strongest guys alive since that was a world record and we all had a good laugh!

I think at some point we all play the "One -Up" game! We just want to be right or better than others. We want that attention and affirmation and for everyone to think highly of us. But when we do that, we are trying to control life and everything and everyone. We want the "love" and "acceptance" and try to get it through getting attention, but it is a false love and a facade.

We need to be humble and meek. Notice I said meek not weak. We don't need to be the attention all the time but when it is our turn to speak or lead then we can do that boldly and with confidence! Let us be gentle, slow to seek and speak and always ready to listen and lead!

 

  Our tendency as humans is to see it before we believe it. Most of the religions today are based on someone or something they have seen and then handed down through time and Christianity is no different. But the problem then lies with the weakness of our flesh in always desiring to SEE Jesus in the flesh so to speak. We can get a picture of His human side from the Gospels, and the focus being on Jesus earthly ministry which we can "see" Him so to speak. The Roman Catholic church as well as the Baptist and protestant churches do the same thing where they focus on Jesus earthly ministry.

  Don't walk by sight when we can see the picture of the suffering Jesus on earth but dwell on the Heavenly Risen Victorious Jesus that has imputed His Life, His Spirit and His Power to you!

I have noticed through my life that the religious, traditional and orthodox folks are always striving to "GET CLOSER" to God! The more they try to get closer to God the more they fail and therefore the works they do lead to an emptiness within. It's almost like a drug the more they try the more they are not satisfied so they try harder. Works will leave you empty and tired

ARE YOU IN THE FAITH! I encourage you to know whether you are a religious person or a saved, regenerated child of God IN CHRIST! Otherwise, you will be empty and tired from all YOUR works and still not saved!

In Christendom we often see the Catholics argue against the protestants that the church was before the bible and therefore the "church" meaning the Roman Catholic church has more authority than the Word of God! Protestants would say that the Bible is over any church or man. (Not to mention the failures of the Popes and mankind.)

IT IS THE WORD OF GOD THAT GIVES LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!!!!

The bible talks a lot about marriage and in Corinthians Paul says this...

1Co 7:1 "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency."

Now there are all kinds of intimacy. There is verbal, physical and sexual. Here in 1 Corinthians 7, it is talking about sexual intimacy. It is vital to a marriage and should not be dismissed no matter how old we are. It is often said by women after a while and getting along in age that they no longer desire and therefore no longer care to be intimate, but I encourage them because their husband does desire it. Often women will say they would rather have a hug and that is physical intimacy too by the way, but it is not all, both are important. It is important to know that as we get older our bodies change, and our desires change but learning to work within those changes are important.

Notice what Paul says in verse 5. He says NOT to defraud which means to cheat or take advantage of another. That means to not withhold yourself from the other, WHY, you say because Satan will tempt you for your incontinency which means lack of self-control. Many affairs and other issues have begun because one decided to defraud the other in some way.

Don't STOP because the idea here is to still give and share love with one another. No matter how old you are you can always do some form of intimacy. Try to be more intimate in all areas of life.

You know it is a shame that girls can't be girls anymore! What do I mean by that statement you ask, well it use to be that girls could hold hands as they go down the street or give hugs and embrace one another. But sadly, as I observe people and especially girls/women I notice and I wonder, and think are these two "together"! I also see men in social media pictures and go Hmmm.... the way they are touching and hugging one another. I mean it seems weird that I even have to question that!  

Gal 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

You know they "MAY" fool me, but they don't fool God do they! It is so sad that our world and especially the U.S that was formed from a Christian base could be so far out of God's design.

Let us make no mistake in thinking that in any form nor by any law in any land that it is acceptable!

They did NOT glorify God it says, and they turned the truth of God into a lie and worshiped themselves!

OH MY! Pray that they would see their sinful hearts and turn to Jesus! And while you do that be gently and boldly standing up for righteousness!

Rom 1:21 "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

Often when discussing things in the bible people will ask me if it is a salvation issue and I say No! This is often taken as "Ok then I can believe whatever I want", which yes you can do that, but the problem is still an issue!!!

WHY is it an issue? Well one may be saved but they still must live day to day. The sanctification issue comes into play. The Galatians were saved but believing a false and perverted gospel.

Gal 1:6 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ."

You see it may or may not be a salvation issue that you're dealing with, but it can be an issue. Now the issue and ministry that I have spent my whole life teaching is the issue of being in bondage or being free in Christ. This issue is so huge because it takes in every sin and every problem, we all have. Anxiety, depression or anything else always fall under the issue of performance. What we HAVE to DO or what we HAVE DONE already. The "have to do" is under some law or standard we believe we must do, and the "have done" part falls under the same type of standard or law but failed to do. Living under laws and ungodly standards keeps us in bondage and that is an ISSUE!

This is why knowing right doctrine and living in the freedom that we have in Christ is so important. Paul says it this way in

Gal 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

It is easy as we all have been trained to live "under law" in some way. Our parents pushed on and taught us to perform and it gets us in that cycle.  It may be our law or standard, but it is still bondage either way. So, whatever is holding you down or keeping you in bondage today stop and analyze it. It may not be a salvation issue but is an ISSUE!

Stop and pray and thank the Lord that you no longer need to perform and meet certain standards to feel loved and accepted by Him, and that you are so grateful and free from rejection and performing! Thank You Jesus!

The biggest thing that separates the Catholic vs protestant church is the idea of justification. Are we justified by our works or by faith alone. Now the Catholic church always quotes James

Jas 2:24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."

...and never Paul, WHY because they choose to believe and desire to have people SHOW their faith. That way they can boast in their works and say it by their "religion" just as the Jews did in

Gal 6:12 "As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh."

They want to boast in their church and their theology! They want to boast in their flesh and works and not Christ!

But if you read James 1, we see that James was written to a different audience...

Jas 1:1 "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting."

You see it was written to the 12 tribes of Israel. This book is a book for those tribulation times that will come later. Notice he is addressing those who are under law, and works were a part of their program.

BUT NOW which means for us today there is different program. We were never under law and still not under the law even today. God has offered salvation to the gentile world without the Levitical law.  This the grace of God being shown to the gentile world and it is without the Temple, priest and works of the law. So now Paul says in

Rom 3:28 "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

AND

Rom 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

So, you see, you are made righteous and saved, secure and sanctified by Faith alone, in Christ alone!

Don't be misled or confused by legalist or performing or religious zealots! STOP jumping through hoops and just Know that you are justified by faith alone!

Be thankful, grateful and joyful in Christ today!

 

The title may sound funny but let me explain. Gravity is a constant thing. It doesn't change just because you hope or pray for it to change. If you drop something it will fall to the ground. It is a Law and called the law of gravity. When astronauts are in space, they have no gravity so then when moved to outer space another law takes over, but both are laws, and both are going to happen no matter what in those places.

IT'S HIS LAW!

Most churches and preachers will use the word repent! You hear that word a lot in scripture and in church, but what most preachers mean by that is to "STOP" sinning! Or stop sinning and turn to Jesus which is closer to the meaning but not quite there yet. Trying to tell someone to "STOP" sinning is like telling the drug addict to stop taking drugs. Few can just stop and if they do stop the same habitual attitude stays and goes into another habit. This why many if not all habitual smokers or alcoholics gain weight after quitting. It also does not change the focus because they are still focused on self.

Hallelujah!!!

In the secular world being independent is a good thing but in Christianity it can be a bad thing. Yes, we are called and should be independent of the world and sin and to separate ourselves from the worlds thinking, but I'm talking about an unhealthy independence that so many believers have.

An independent believer is one who thinks they don't need the body or one who thinks they can share whatever they want whenever they want. They cuss and treat the saints like they don't matter. They don't care how they hurt others with their words, and they usually can't take constructive criticism. They operate like they are the only ones that matters in life. This is not love but self-centeredness. It is pride and arrogance and destroys unity. Independent believers are usually controlling. They control the conversation and surroundings to their liking and where they feel comfortable and they can control the situation. They talk more than anyone else and never listen or ask how others are doing.

Only God has the right to be Independent,

Psa 135:5 "For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods."

Psa 115:3 "But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased."

Rom 11:34 "For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?"

We are told to love one another...

Rom 12:10 "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"

Gal 5:13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."

Eph 4:2 "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"

I urge you to not be independent of the body but to live your life for others in this way.

Phl 2: 3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"

Because there are more Christian T.V and radio programs, it would seem that the world is hearing the Word of God a lot more. Now how they preach the Word can come into question, but the Word of God is being taught.  

BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST!!! Mega church hits 10,000 people! Small churches aren't important! This the way many folks think! The world says the bigger the better. Big house, Big car, Big bank account! BUT big does not always mean BEST! Read what Jesus said in Matthew...

Mat 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

WOW! 2-3 Now THAT'S a small church! Now you might say that's not a church well if Jesus body is the church than the number doesn't matter does it!

Col 1:24 "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:"

And just so you know that 80% of all churches in the US are under 200 and 80% of the 200 are under 100! That means that the majority of churches are not mega churches.

If we look at the early church we see that many met in houses.

Rom 16:5" Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

1Co 16:19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

Col 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Phm 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:"

The big numbers don't mean its heathy. Bigger is not always better and many times it could mean unhealthy or BAD! Remember that the biggest single so-called church is the Roman Catholic and that should tell you something! To add Taylor Swift and the secular entertainment world brings in millions in concerts, but they are far from being Godly!

What matters most is the Word and the work of the ministry to the edifying of the body of Christ in any setting big or small!

As in most religions, idols are made to worship. Paul was speaking to these Athenians and telling them that they were too superstitious because they made idols and worshiped them.  

...23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device."

Do you ever worry or doubt? Most of us do at least once in some way daily. We might fear or be anxious or even sink into guilt and depression. Now all of these can be put in the category of feelings and not actions, yet they control our actions and behavior. The bible says that these feelings are not of faith and is sin!

Rom 14:23 ".... for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

So is worry of faith? NO! How about doubt, fear, anxiety or guilt? Nope none are of faith! Therefore, when we "FEEL" or think in these areas we are sinning.

Now you say I thought sin was breaking the 10 commandments! Or maybe you're a Torah guy and broke one of the 613 Levitical laws! Well, I got news for you Paul says this in Galatians,

Gal 3:12 "And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them."

The LAW is NOT OF FAITH! WOW! You see those who want to live by the law are in sin even if they keep the law because the law is not of faith. It is by sight and not of faith as Paul says in

2Co 5:7 "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)"

So, you might say "I sin a lot because I worry and fear a lot," well at least admitting and being honest is good. Now every time you worry or fear or are anxious go to the Lord in prayer. Open up to Him and admit and be honest with yourself. Begin to thank Him for His forgiveness and then renew your mind in that you are deeply loved and no longer need to fear anything or anyone! That you are a NEW creature that is saved, secure and sealed in Him. That you are a child of God and belong to Him. Then REST IN CHRIST. The more you do this the more you will have renewed your mind and therefore are walking by FAITH! While being bad, and not good for us, sin can actually drive us toward God and spend time with Him and what would be so wrong with that!  

Yep, that's me! Well I don't know about the wise part but I sure can do some stupid things! I think stupid and I act stupid! Do you ever do that?

What do you do when every church on every corner teaches the same thing. When they basically teach the same doctrine and believe the same thing? Well, you do what most people do and that is stop going or look for the pastor that has a great personality, looks and charisma. You look for the church that plays the kind of music you like and the church that entertains you!

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

All Christian orthodox, denominational and even non-denominational churches push the sacraments or otherwise known as the ordinances. Probably known as much as any is the communion or as some say, "eucharist" or "Lord's Supper". Now what is interesting is that sacrament means "mystery". In other words, the very thing that Paul is saying in

The mystery is IN CHRIST! The mystery was given to Paul! The mystery is the New Revelation that the risen Jesus gave to Paul and the gentile church. The mystery is NOT an earthly, natural type of thing but it is the internal, heavenly and salvation for today. The mystery is not in some mystic thinking that Jesus is in a piece of bread that somehow becomes Him when you eat it, OH NO! The mystery is the dispensing of God's Word, Grace and salvation to the gentile world!

NO, we believers are not perfect meaning without sin as many non-believers want to accuse us of thinking. No were not sinless but as Paul says here in Philippians, we forget our past and reach forward.  

Phl 3:12 "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Let me just say we may need to deal with our past, but we don't need to dwell on it. Our past no longer dictates who we are nor are we to walk in shame and guilt over it. We ARE to deal with whatever we may have done to hurt others and try to reconcile if possible or perhaps pay restitution for something we may have broken or stole or .... but we don't need to sink in shame.

We are a New Creature and completely forgiven, so we put our mind on the Love of Christ and what He has done for us. We can live in an attitude of gratefulness and freedom! We can live in VICTORY and not defeat.  We can be assured and secure of our future and look forward to being with Christ forever!

I don't know about you, but it is hard for me to stop from arguing or correcting those who are ungodly especially those on social media. The ones that want to put everyone back under the law and perform their religious works. The ones that are ungodly and make up works to do and twist scripture and are unbelievably unbiblical.

Which means to not talk about or with these ungodly, dishonest and unsaved religious folks. Notice he says when doing this it leads to even more ungodliness. Let the foolish, argumentative, hardheaded, stiff-necked, and unsaved live in their own sinful vomit and move on to those who are truly saved, free, sincere, genuine and faithful to the gospel of grace!

I remember my mom had a hard time not giving the lawn boy something even though he said he would cut her grass for free. It was his ministry to her, and she so appreciated it so she always gave him some money in return. It is a natural reaction to repay someone who has helped us in some way. Sure, at times it can be pride which can make us do this but hopefully it is a deep appreciation for the gift they gave.

Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 5...

2Co 5:14 "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."

Notice first that he says Christ died for how many.... ALL!!!!!! Christ died for ALL men meaning everyone. Christ died for ALL because ALL were dead. He then resurrected so that ALL may have life!!! And those that chose by faith to trust in Christ resurrection and have life may now LIVE for JESUS!

Just like my mom who was so appreciative for the lawn boy that she gave back to him we too should be so appreciative to Christ for giving HIS life and for giving us LIFE! Don't live for yourself, be grateful and appreciative and

LIVE FOR CHRIST JESUS TODAY!!!

As we grow up, we must make choices. We have to choose to not follow the kids that misbehave and get into trouble. As we get older we have to decide if we are going to join and be a part of the drinking, drugs or promiscuous group. We can also choose to work or make good grades.

Notice Paul was the only one who didn't fall into this trap and even scolded Peter and the rest of them. Sometimes you may have to stand alone against these types of people but don't bend for one second. Lead them or leave them but don't join them!

We all have blood vessels that carry our blood throughout our bodies. Without the vessels the blood would just pour out and we would die from internal bleeding. A vessel is something that is empty or hollow and allows something to flow through it.

We are vessels for the Holy Spirit to live and flow through us.

2Ti 2:20 "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."

When we allow the Spirit to live and work within us, we are an honorable vessel that our "master can use"! We then are ready for every "good work" that our "Master's" desire for us to do. Now these "good works" are all by faith and always for the "master's" purpose and edifies the Body of Christ. These good works may be a simple smile or howdy to a stranger or listening to someone at the hospital or can be sharing the gospel to a lost soul. There are no limits to these good works as long as there by faith and for the "master's" use.

The wood and earthy things burn and are destroyed and are without honor. This vessel is not ready for doing "good works" for the "Master"!

But You are a Great house in which Great works of gold and silver live in and can never be burned up. We are rich with honor as we allow the Holy Spirit to live, work and control our lives!

Be that vessel that God's uses!

When most people think of intimacy they think of only sexual intimacy but there are lots of different ways to show intimacy. Physical such as hugging or kissing or even playing games or activities together are some ways. It could be verbal such as talking and listening and communicating deep thoughts and fears with one another, as well as praying and reading the word together, which I think is one of the most intimate things you can do.

The word intimacy could be defined as being "together", "one and close". To be honest and real with one another. Of course there is also sexual intimacy, and it should not be dismissed. Paul says this in

2Co 2:11 "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."

AND

1Co 7:5 "Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency."

While the verse is talking about sexual intimacy, we should not defraud or take advantage in any type of intimacy. All intimacy should be strived for and done as much as possible.

Don't use the excuses of health or age or anything else. Men should strive for verbal and listening intimacy while women may struggle with sexual especially as we all get older. Try talking more and more about your feelings and deepest thoughts, dreams and even goals. Pray with one another daily as well as read the Word together. Be sensitive to each other's vulnerabilities as well as strengths and build each other up as well.

A simple "I Love you" can be Great too!

The gentile church is called the Body of Christ and is the church today. The church today is not under law but grace.

We are never told to tithe yet so many pastors preach tithing. Mostly they teach it so they can have financial gain and support, but if you teach tithing than you are back under law which means you are obligated to do ALL the law!

It says James, which is written to the 12 tribes of Israel under law...

Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

We are told to give not out of obligation but out of generosity.

2Co 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

Remember EVERYTHING under the law is weak and beggarly compared to a sincere, generous and faithful heart!

Gal 4:9 "But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?"

Not tithing does not mean Not giving, it just means giving with the right heart and purpose!

Remember to always be A "CHEERFUL GIVER"!

Pentecost means 50th day and it is the 2nd feast in the Jewish feast celebrations. It is 7 weeks after Passover for the completion of the harvest, but most Christians today think of it as Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit come upon the 12 Apostles and Isreal.

Act 2:1" And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them."

Now there are churches today which are called Pentecostals who love the gifts and to speak in tongues and do crazy things in church. But they don't just practice it they require it in order to prove you are saved! Now the problem with them and other denominations that adhere to today's church being formed here is for one it addresses Israel.

Act 2:5 "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language."

And 2 they were speaking in a language that was known to these men who were visiting Jerusalem for their normal yearly pilgrimage for Pentecost. The church at the Temple was still Israel and it was known since the world began. Nothing had changed from Jesus earthly ministry as far as WHO they were addressing and that is still the lost sheep of ISRAEL!  

BUT NOW!

THAT church at the Temple which was Israels Kingdom nation is not the church today. The church today is a New Creature called the Body of Christ! It is the gentile church and is a heavenly bound fellowship that was NOT known hence why it is called the mystery. The Body of Christ is not under the law or to celebrate the feast or to walk by sight and gifts but rather we walk by faith alone! We are not moved by some crazy experience but rather stand strong in the Word alone!

Don't be fooled by those who speak in tongues and desire to see miracle after miracle for they walk by sight and not by faith! Let us be faithful to the revelation of the mystery given to Paul for us today. Let us be faithful with our instructions and freedom we have today! Let us be Faithful in Christ alone!

So often I hear pastors say they are leading a flock meaning their church, or some reference to the church as sheep. But the bible tells us that only Israel was called sheep and needed a shepherd. They were called lost sheep and Jesus was sent to them.

Mat 15:24 "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

but we are not lost sheep rather we belong to Christ!  We are not lost but saved. We are a part of Christ and represent Him on earth. We are Ambassadors and Conquerors in Christ!

2Co 5:20 "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

Now you may say what difference does that make? Well on so many levels we are different. Sheep need to be led and fed by a shepherd which means they look to a man. Israel was lost and denied the man Jesus their earthly Messiah.

We on the other hand are IN Christ and have His Word alone to feed us. We lead and share the gospel while sheep just want to be fed all the time. Sheep are not the brightest and have a victim mentality while we have Victory and have been blessed with every spiritual blessing within us.

Now you may say don't pastors today feed and lead, yes but differently. They may teach yes, but we are not to rely solely on them for we have the Word of God in our hands. We can read, study and interpret the Word for ourselves.

You're not a lost sheep but a saved, secure saint in Christ! Believe it and be blessed today in Christ!

We should always eat some fruit. A well-balanced diet is good and keeps us healthy. The same goes for a healthy tree. If the tree is healthy, it produces good fruit. The reason it produces fruit is because the roots are heathy. But if the roots are bad, it produces rotten fruit.

Jesus uses the word fruit throughout His earthly ministry to describe the nation and people of Israel. He says here in Matthew 7,

Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

We shall know them by their fruits! Meaning what they produce tells us who they are! This applies to the Body of Christ also. Now I'm not talking about a works mentality but a fruit producing byproduct. This means it is not by our effort but by Christ power within. It is not us trying to "do" but by us resting in the Spirit and allowing the fruit to be produced. Our Spirit is healthy in other words. Notice this verse from Ephesians,

Eph 5:9 "(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)"

The fruit of the Spirit is always good, righteous and truthful. The fruit of the Spirit is always Godly in other words. The roots are nourishing on Christ. The spirit of man is being watered by the Word and receiving from the Holy Spirit.

And this verse from Galatians,

Gal 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

The fruit is singular which is love and love is joy, peace, longsuffering and so on. Notice it says that love it is also temperance which means self-control or discipline. Self-control means to control our lust by Christ Love. To control our desire by a healthy root system in Christ after all we are to be "rooted" in Christ Love!

Eph 3:17 "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,"

You can tell a lot about a person by their fruit. What is their greatest desire? Are they humble and seek righteousness? Are they consumed with self, or are they anxious and controlling? Do they crave and yearn for the Word and what is the fruit that comes from their roots?

Perhaps we should always ask ourselves "what does my fruit look like"? "Are my roots healthy or would I want to eat my fruit"? Keep your roots healthy by watering and feeding on the Word daily!!

Mar 13:7 " And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet."

Israel has just attacked and bombed Iran. This could be a major war in the middle east and around the world and we should be ready. We should be ready, steady and strong in faith because every time there is a new escalation somewhere in the world and especially in the middle east, we hear folks says the end times are near. We get all nervous and fearful and then turn into a scare tactic to bring people to Christ.

Now I do think we need to be aware but not fearful. We do need to share the gospel but not out of fear which is self-protection but out of love. We do need to stay faithful and steady even in dark days, but it is nowhere near the end.

Jesus was sharing the verses above to a nation. The nation that will be a Kingdom but not to us gentiles. He was sharing this insight so Israel would know but first the Body of Christ must be taken out of this world. THEN and only then will those troubled, hard, and sad end times come.

Don't be fearful, walk faithfully and be STRONG IN CHRIST JESUS!

As I read, write and post on different media platforms I see the Catholic Cult continuing to drive their perverted gospel. This gospel and doctrine hurt the saved as well as the unsaved in a lot of ways. For one, salvation is not by works nor by actions but by faith alone, but also after one is saved, we can still see the harm of this works, sight mentality.

You see once we are saved by faith alone, we can easily be entangled again with the yoke of bondage! What is that yoke of bondage you may ask... Law, ordinances and traditions!

Gal 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

Paul makes this point over and over throughout his books. We are free from the law and therefore from the enticing sin! Read this verse from 1Corinthians and really think about it.

1Co 15:56 "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law."

The Body of Christ is free from sin, death and law!!! LIVE FREE SAINTS!

Be careful who you hang out with for if they are staunch Catholics or walk by sight and law then they can easily pull you away from the freedom You have in Christ!!!  

If Mid Acts doctrine is not true!

Robin and I like to watch real "who done it" shows like Dateline. After someone is killed the detectives often work backwards to eliminate people.......This what we can do too with bible doctrine.

We can say "if Mid Acts doctrine is Not true than we have a problem. We have confusion and controversy. Mid Acts is described as the time when the movement from Israel to the gentile began. When Jesus saved Paul and gave Paul new doctrine to the gentile. Not under Israel's law program but offering the gentile salvation by faith alone.

How can we say we have been forgiven completely by

Eph 4:3 "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Col 2:13 "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;"

IF Jesus says this in Matthew

Mat 6:11 "Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Jesus tells Israel they must forgive before they will be forgiven. Oh and that thing about Israel! Jesus tells the lady in Matthew

Mat 10:5 "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Mat 15:24 "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

SO, if He only came to Israel and IF no gentiles were saved at that time that tells us that there is a difference, right! It tells us something different happen when Paul came along. It tells us that in the middle of Acts approximately, that after Jesus earthly ministry to Israel and their rejection of Him God decided to go to the gentile world.

By the way there was NO cross, NO blood, NO dispersion of the Holy Spirit moving at the time of Jesus earthly ministry. There was NO death or Resurrection! There was Law and works but now under the mid Acts doctrine we see grace shown to gentiles and salvation offered by faith alone!

Follow Paul and Mid Acts doctrine and you will see the "difference". Mid Acts doctrine is found in Paul's books to the gentile, Romans through Philemon.

You take it too far!

Some may say "you take things to far"! The liberal left thinks the conservative right goes too far with things and unbelievers think religious people should just let people live their own life. They have a "live and let live" attitude.

Even among Christians some look at others and think they take things too far.  Certainly, we can look at some Christians church sects like the Amish and see they seem to take things too far. They live under law as all those who want to see external works and conformity.

But there are also those who say "you take grace to far" or "you take Pauline doctrine to far"! Well, I have never ever seen grace go too far, but I have seen grace taken advantage of. That's not grace by the way that's called sin and manipulation. The grace of God can never go "TOO" far because it is HIS GRACE not ours. It is HIS way of saving not ours.

Now how can you tell if someone takes things too far? When they think they must "DO" ordinances under law!!!! The ordinances were to show Christ, but they were NOT CHRIST! They were only shadows of Christ but not the real Christ! We have CHRIST IN US, and we are in Him, how much closer can you get!!!!

Col 2:16 " Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."

I heard a story once were someone wanted to buy a tree from a guy for firewood. The guy told him he would sell it to him for $1000.00 and the man said that's a little high, so the man said OK I sell you the "shadow" for $100.00!

WHAT good is the shadow, ZERO, NOTHING! What matters is the wood, and what matters is CHRIST!!!!

As we get older and have been married awhile, we sometimes forget the things we did when we were younger. The things we did when dating and trying to win our spouse over. Men most often forget things that are so simple to say or do but really shows wife your heart. Here are some suggestions to help you and your spouse connect, feel secure and grow together.

Husbands

1. Husbands read the Word together daily! Pray with and for her, both of these things show what is most important to you and wives want a Godly husband.

2. Open the door for her when you get in the car or store....

3. Compliment her on how she looks.

4. Tell her Thank you for fixing you dinner or anything else.

5. Always honor her. Never put her down she is your Queen.

6. Ask her about her feelings and day.

7.Tell her you love her everyday

Ladies

1. Pray for him to be the leader and Godly man.

2. Ask him about his day and what he is thinking about.

3. Always respect him.

4. Don't belittle him.

5. Be affectionate

6. Tell him you love him daily.

These are just a few things you can do to help bring unity and love one another as you get older.

Grace often has different meanings by different people. The Calvinist pervert the word grace and the liberal uses the word grace for selfish desires.

The Word grace means to accept and have favor upon. It means to have the approval of God. Israel had that favor but rejected their Messiah! So, God moved on from Israel and would accept the gentile without the nation of Israel or its laws! He would save and show favor, approval and acceptance to the gentile who would believe in Jesus's cross work and resurrection by faith.

Eph 2:5 "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"

NOT BY LAW BUT BY GRACE...

Rom 6:14 "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

NOT BY WORKS...

It means no more works of the law. We are saved by grace alone by faith alone.  

Rom 11:6 "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."

SUFFICIENT...

Paul says that His Grace is sufficient, which means His Life and His acceptance is above death or our struggles!

2Co 12:9  "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

SHOW THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE...

So that He may show the world His acceptance and His favor through Jesus Christ.

Eph 2:7 "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

SOUND DOCTRINE NOT EXPERIENCES!

All of us know or at least have seen some charismatic church or person in our lives. The kind that speaks in tongues and dances around in church meetings like a crazy person. The kind that says they heard God's voice audibly say something to them. They are charismatic Catholics and Protestants who claim so many strange doctrines and works of the flesh. They base everything on their "Experiences". They are the kind that say I "saw" this, or I "heard" that! Someone was healed or brought back to life and most of the time it is always to up the experience, in order to prove and to get others excited.

They want to "SEE" and "HEAR" but we are called to walk by FAITH!!!

We are told to believe and walk by sound doctrine not our experiences. We are told to "hold fast" to sound doctrine.

2Ti 1:13 "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."

This means to put on like a glove and wear strongly without ever taking off.    

Tit 1:9 "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers."

To grasp and never let go!

Tit 2:1"But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:"

And we are to speak and edify with words that come from the WORD and not experiences.

Don't get caught up in other's experiences but rather read the Word, know sound doctrine and be content in Christ alone!

Struggling with life!

Do you ever struggle with life? I find myself struggling with health issues at times. It's not the actual disease itself that is so bad but the desire to be back to normalcy. The diet, the meds and the different therapies that one must go through. The desire to exercise or go places and not plan around things. I just wish at times it was over, and I could get back to doing the things I enjoy. Do you ever feel this way.

Phm 1:9 "Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ."

Paul was in prison when he wrote those words. I wonder if Paul dealt with wanting to get back to normal life. While he was in prison and although he used it to minister to the guards or whomever I wonder if he wanted to be able to leave and do what he wanted to do. To see the church and to laugh with them. To eat with them and have normal food and not be treated like a prisoner. I bet he suffered in the same way.

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

To endure afflictions and do the work of the ministry. Paul knew he was near his time to depart from this world and be with the Lord.

We too need to focus on doing the work even in our afflictions! Even when suffering through tests and needles poking us, we still need to share Christ and edify the body. (And just a little selfish tid-bit, I also believe not only is it the right thing to do but it takes our mind off ourselves and puts it on Christ and others!)  

Paul continues

...7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Keep up the FAITH and FINISH your course no matter what and you too will have an everlasting crown waiting for you!

Alexa was a high school track athlete who had to compete against a transgender athlete. After she had beat the boy, she wouldn't stand on the podium with him and several other girls wouldn't either. This is happening all over our colleges and High schools and even into JR. High grades. I am so proud and thankful for all the Alexa's and others who will stand against this sinful behavior!  

It is sad that we now live in a society that has accepted and made legal homosexuality and transgender behavior.  It sickens me and remember this door was open by the liberal left Democrats as well as Hollywood.

Paul says this in

Rom 1:22 " Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."

This verse is so perfect for today. They and by "they" I don't just mean the transgender but the ones who allowed it to be accepted and legal "Professed to be wise"! This was not wise but stupid and it harms society as a whole. It is unrighteous and ungodly! They changed the TRUTH OF GOD into a LIE!!! They worship themselves, the creature, instead of the CREATOR!

Paul continues...

... 28 "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness,...  "

They are filled with ALL unrighteousness, and so God gave them over to their own sin and destruction! Take a STAND against this evil! STAND with me against all who would make such sin normal! Don't accept or approve of this wickedness but be BOLD and STRONG IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!

2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

We are all born in bondage to fear it says in Romans 8.

Rom 8:15 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

And while it is easy to fall back into fear, we do not have the spirit of fear now! We have the spirit of Victory through Christ! We are reconciled to God through Christ and do not need to fear rejection from God or man. We have the spirit of adoption through Christ. We no longer, long to belong, but now belong to God through Christ. When we walk by our flesh, we may fear our spouse or our children's future and perhaps the government or our financial future.... all of that means nothing when we know WHO we are and WHERE we are going.

It is God love that drives out fear.

1Jo 4:8 ... "for God is love. and

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

So don't walk in fear, put on God's Love, and be confident, bold and free in Christ!!!!

Dealing with Shame!

I have counseled a lot of folks who walk in shame.  It seems the ones that suffer the most are those who have been involved in some sort of sexual sin. Whether they have been molested or raped or gave their bodies away for pleasure or money. I have heard some awful stories, and I could see why they lived in shame.

We all have shame to some degree. It may be a onetime sin that we did yesterday or in years past. It may be something that was done to us over and over from years past. Shame always comes from something in the past. It is being self-focused on our performance instead of Christ. We may have sinned, or someone has sinned against us, and we focus on how it looks or how others think of us. We can't go back and change what happen, but we can deal with it righteously and not "live" in shame.

The bible tells us in Titus that we are regenerated as believers and that means we are made alive spiritually speaking.

Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

AND THAT MEANS

we are made a NEW CREATURE in CHRIST!

2Co 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

We are no longer who we were but ALIVE and FREE! We no longer need the approval of others and therefore no longer need to walk in shame. Now while this truth is true it may take a while to sink into our minds. This is why I recommend renewing your mind over and over of this truth and 2 getting someone to help you grow in this. You may need to talk with someone who can help you see yourself as Christ sees you.

Be Real, Be Honest and Stop walking in Shame.

 

The problem I see in the Body today is that they don't understand the meaning of love and therefore continue to do it selfishly which is always unrighteous. Love is always righteous and Godly.

Learn to LOVE as God and sometimes that hurts to the point of death!