“…I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy [F]irst [L]ove. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly…”  (Revelation 2:4-5)

 

My reader, The quoted text above is a frightful warning. These are words spoken by Christ to a backslidden Church/Christ-ian. This warning defines the backslidden. The backslider is one who has fallen from their first Love.  Who is the Christ-ian’s first Love?  It should be obvious. The believer’s [F]irst [L]ove is Christ Himself. When a believer is backslidden s/he has left that [F]irst [L]ove!  What a fearful charge. There are great warnings associated with this falling away.

The (1st) first warning for leaving thy [F]irst [L]ove is in v.4, “I (Christ) some[thing] against thee.  Beloved, it is never a good thing to have Christ against thee or for him to have something against thee Again, it is a fearful thing.  Else where is Scripture we are told that it is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the living [and angry] God.  In Revelation, God promises to spue the fallen out of His [M]outh. Bibe teachers may differ upon the meaning of this verse but none doubt it is not a positive meaning.
What is it to fall away? Christ said in John’s Gospel that the person who loves Him “will keep His words.” Therefore, to fall away is to cease keeping His Word. What is it to keep His Word?  *If one is to keep His Word one is to guard it as having inestimable value. *One is to obey it as the Word(s) of one’s Beloved Sovereign and Saviour.  *One will guard it from the enemies of Christ at any and all cost.  *One will forsake all for that Word.  *One will look forward with great anticipation to hear it preached. *For one to keep His Word is to love others that keep His Word. *The one who keeps His Word will live or die by that word and *will be sure to understand all His meanings and *will never add to it nor will he take away from it.  Reader, Are you backslidden? Have you fallen from your [f]irst [L]ove?

The (2nd) second warning is, “I will come unto thee quickly…”
John, at the end of the Revelation says, “Even so, Come quickly, Lord.” So one would think that “I will come unto thee quickly” a good and hopeful promise and it is, if we are to be found faithful and watching for Him. However, this is not the case. This coming quickly is a warning for the one to whom He speaks is not to be found faithful ot watching. No, the one to whom Christ speaks has failed to love Him, s/he has failed to endure. Reader this is a fearful warning!!! When I was a boy my mother would use her shoe on my backside and man-o-man was she quick.   During the summers of my youth, my Mom and my Dad  would visit my G-Pa in Mississippi for a month. G-Pa’s kitchen would enter into a utility room and the u. room would enter into the washroom, and the washroom would enter into the front room and the f. room would enter into the kitchen.  I would run circles, I thought it was the greatest but my G-Pa didn’t.  He said, “Stop running around like a maniac!” and that was followed by, “One More Time!!!”  and that was followed by WHACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I didn’t think G-Pas actually hit G-kids but mine did and he was quick with a belt. He could pop my backside in one motion. He would unbuckle the belt and pull it off and whip….all in one motion.  Zorro nor Catwoman, nor Indiana Jones has anything on my G-Pa and his leather belt.
When Christ says, “I will come unto thee quickly” this is what He’s speaking of. He will come quickly to bring discipline in order to bring you back. You might wonder, “Why would discipline make me love Him again?”  It just does. You will realize that you have left Him and His loving discipline is what will bring you back.  Well over (20) twenty years ago I left my [F]irst [L]ove. I did it knowingly and on and with purpose. I was angry with Him and “I will show Him” was my focus in life. No more Church, no more Christ-ianity, no more Christ-ians. I would replace the Church with the bar, I would replace my faith with sin, and I would replace Christ-ians with sinners. I did this for a year or (2) two. I would sin and think, “How’d you like that, God?” I was a mess. Do you want to know how God disciplined me?…………………….He was so good to me and so faithful to me.  He knows His own. If He was harsh in discipline that would have given me more ammo against Him but He knew me and He knew my heart and he knew that His love, goodness, kindness, and His continued blessings would break me and break me He did. That is how He dealt with me. He deals differently with others…see Jonah.  His continued goodness and His continued blessings caused me to and brought me to repentance. Glory to God, I have not left Him since and of course, He has not left me.

Third warning: “[I] will remove thy candlestick out of his place…”
While this speaks to the individual who has fallen from the [F]irst [L]ove, the context is a letter from Christ to the Church of Ephesus. In the Book of Revelation and its (1st) first (3) three chapters we find (7) seven letters being dictated. These [7] seven letters are to be sent to the [7] seven churches. In these letters Christ gives His estimation of the (7) seven churches. The (7) seven churches were real churches and (methinks) each church speaks to a Church age.  Todays Church is in the Laodicean Age.
Having written the above and having given you the proper context, we will (DV) continue speaking as we have been….to the individual.

The (3rd) third warning is having thy candlestick removed. Of course, men differ as to what this means within the context of the Church and the Church age. But for us…the word removed, is a frightening word. Removed, taken away, gone, loss, etc.  These are not good words when being spoken in relation to one’s relationship with thy [F]irst [L]ove. One of my greatest fears is being put on a shelf and of being of no use to my God. My greatest joy is being of service to my God and His people.

By His Grace I shall never ever leave my [F]irst [L]ove again. To be Absent His Presence is Hell.

 

 

 

 

 

“Behold, he prayeth.”  (Acts 9)

“Pray without ceasing”  (1 Thessalonians 5)

“…continuing instant in prayer.”  (Romans 12)

“Continue in prayer”  (Colossians 4)

 

Samuel the prophet called prayer-less-ness a sin. When Christ sent Ananias (the good one) to find Saul, the persecutor of Christ-ians, He said unto him, “Behold he prayeth.” In other words, Ananias would recognize Saul and the great change in Saul by the fact that Saul prayeth to the same God Ananias prays to and through the same Christ doth he pray.

A man who prays well in public prays well in private. A man who stumbles in public prays little in private. The depth of a person’s faith is determined by prayer. The depth of a Christ-ians love can be determined by prayer. The more one prays the more one shall know God. These are spiritual laws, reader. When a baby is born that baby will cry out and draw it’s first breathe. ‘Tis true of the second birth, the baby believer will cry out in prayer for what air is to the newborn baby, prayer is to the newborn believer.

We are not to use prayer as a measurement of other believers. We are to use prayer as a measurement upon our own person. We are to use time spent with God in reading, studying, meditating, and praying as a litmus test to our spiritual health. We are to measure our love for God by the desire we have to meet with Him through the varying means and modes He allows us and affords us.

I understand that the world wants to claim your time in order to keep you away from time spent with God. However there are ways around this. If you “have not the time” to read the Scriptures listen to them in your car on the way to work or eliminate that which is not necessary so that you might spend time in the Book of God.
Prayer, there is always time to pray. Pray before you walk out the door, “Lord, Let me go forth in Thy Holy Name and with Thy blessings.”  Pray prior to answering or making a phone call. “Lord, grant me the focus and the grace to deal with X, or help me to think staight as I converse with this person.” Pray before driving your car, “Lord, Grant me Thy Mercy in my travels.”  Before meeting with someone pray, “Lord, let me be a blessing to this person and let this person be a blessing to me.”  Before rising from slumber pray, “Lord, allow me to keep my thoughts upon Thee this day.”

Prayer need not be a formal ritual. Though one should not throw out formality altogether. There are times to kneel before God, there are times to lie upon one’s face before God, there are times to remain silent before God. There are times to shout before God. There are times to be still before God and to know that God is God.

I read a book called, “Practicing the Presence of God.” I re-read it often.  It is a tiny booklet that was written by one Brother Lawrence. It was published in the (1600’s) Sixteen hundreds. It is a tiny book made up of letters written by Lawrence to different persons on how to dwell in God’s Presence on a continuous basis, yes, continuous. This book changed my life and i use not hyperbole. This book taught me about “ceaseless prayer” and “continued/continuing prayer” and “being instant in prayer.”

To be in a continuous God-mindset is to dwell in His Presence, it is to be His door-keeper so to speak. The need for daily devotionals become extinct for the whole of your life is devoted to God.  You can bring this Perpetual Presence with you in Bible reading, Bible study. This Perpetual Presence is with you in a very real and unimagined way. This Presence goes before you, stands beside you, watches behind you, quickens the graces of God from within you.

I mispoke when I said that I learned from Lawrence or that he taught me. Certainly he did in a way. However, of what I speak cannot be taught or learned by man or from man. One can learn to desire it by hearing another man speak of it. A man may fervently pray for this Presence after having heard of it’s splendid-ness. It truly must be practiced if it is ever to be learned and it is never a thing to be mastered. To master this Presence is to master God and that is impossible and ridiculous.

The Perpetual Presence will become pervasive in all that is you. You will find that this Holy Presence is active in all of your ways of thinking, in your intuitions, and in your instincts. You will find this Divine Spirit of God will be continually witnessing to your Spirit and  He will be saying, Mine….All Mine. This Pervasive, Perpetual Presence will positively Possess your Person.  “Not my will be done, but Thine will be done”  will become not second but first nature in your life.

As this Presence dwells in you, with you, on you; as the Holy Spirit goes before you and stands beside you, you will grow more and more impatient while you await the Coming of Christ. Your love for God will grow deeper and deeper, you will long more and more for His arrival, you will desire your knowledge of all things God to widen and widen.

Reader, I cannot teach you this Presence, but I can encourage you to read after those who do practice it. I would encourage you to pray for a greater sense of God’s Presence. I would encourage you to seek His Presence in His Word. Seek for Him in your godly thoughts and meditations. Look for Him in His Creation, and above all speak with Him in Prayer…await Him in silent prayer, praise Him, thank Him, seek His forgiveness and if you think you have a need petition Him for that need, intercede for others and then tell Him how you so desire His Spiritual Presence and how you long after His physical return.

Godspeed.

“…The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit.”  (1 Corinthians 2:14)

 

We wrote about Jehovah’s [False} Witnesses a little while back. We chose to refer to their lot as J.W. instead of using the Name of God. We will keep with that practice today. If you read our last article concerning the J.W. you will remember we “pulled no punches.” We will keep with that practice as well.

In our last article we likened the J.W. to The Christian faith as one would liken the Joker to Batman. They are anathema one to the other. As Batman stands for truth and justice and the American way; the Joker stands for deception, evil, and the “broad way.” The J.W. believes in using deception to get their way. They will twist Scripture truth to make their point. They will bring their babies with them in the winter time in order to get you to allow them in to your homes. The J.W. is to the Christ-ian what Moriarty was to Sherlock Holmes, what Sylvester is to Tweety Bird, what the Dalek is to Who. The Christ-ian and Christ-ian truth, however,  is to the J.W. what Kryptonite is to Superman or liver is to the Fonz. Christ-ian knowledge and understanding is to the Christ-ian what Spinach is to Popeye.  You get the picture….The learn-ed Christ-ian is to the J.W. what water is to the wicked Witch of the West… I could go on for days.

There are other ways to demonstrate their wickedness and their lost estate. The fact that they cannot discern sound doctrine from false is a sure sign of their lost condition. Paul wrote in his (1st) first epistle to the Corinthians that, “the natural man (or lost man) cannot receive (or understand) the things (teachings) of the Spirit of God for they are spiritually discerned.” In other words, the lost person cannot understand the plain teaching of Scripture.

The Scriptures are clear on many, if not most, if not all of it’s teachings. The Scriptures are clear on the deity of Jesus Christ. In other words, Scripture is clear on Who Christ is. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Son Of God. The Word Son does not refer to a “chip of the old block,” No, The Word Son refers to the Very Image. The word, Son equates Christ with Co-equality, Co-Existence, Co-Authority, and Co-Deity with the Father. Jesus Christ is God of Very God. Creation is attributed to all (3) Three Members of the (1) One Godhead. The same attributes are afforded all Members of the Divine GodHead. Christ claimed to Be Jehovah God and at this claim the religious picked up stones to kill Him as they knew what He was claiming. He said, “I and [M]y Father are [O]ne.”  He further said, ” Before Abraham was I am.” Again claiming deity. Most miss this…Christ said the lilies of the valley are more beautiful than Solomon in all his glory.”  How would He know that? He was Present.

I asked a J.W. once or actually many times, “Why did the religious leaders take up stones to kill Christ?” and he responded, “because (h)e was blaspheming.”  “WOOO!” said I, “So you claim Christ is a god with a little g yet you charge [h]im with blasphemy!”  The J.W. always stumble at the truth of Christ’s Diety. This is because the lost man cannot understand the plainest of Scripture’s teaching.

Another of Scripture’s plainest of teachings is the Personhood and Deity of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures attribute personality to the Holy Spirit. He can be angered, He speaks, He draws, He teaches, He leads and guides, He is Sovereign in His Person, He makes choices and decisions, He forbids, He empowers and enables, He inspired Holy men of old to pen the Scriptures, He kills, He gives life, He can be lied to, etc.  All of these descriptions are descriptions of a Person. The J.W. however, calls the Holy Ghost, a force or a power of God and in no way considers Him to be a Member of the Trinity as in their false teachings there is no Trinity.

Another plain teaching of Scripture is the place called Hell. In Scripture Hell is a real place where lost man really goes at the point of death. Christ speaks of Hell far more than He does of Heaven or of Love. To Christ Hell is a very real place. It is described as being in the heart of the earth. Science tells us that there is lava or fire at the heart of the earth, what could be simpler? Hell is described as a place of human consciousness. The Lost man feels pain, s/he speaks, s/he suffers, s/he desires to be freed, s/he desires a drink, s/he desires loved ones that still live to be warned of Hell. Hell is described as a place of everlasting torment. Men are said to cry out and to weep and gnash their teeth. Scripture teaches Hell to be very real and very close. The J.W. dismisses these teachings and refuse to teach Hell’s truth. Hell is full of J.W. and ever widens and ever reach up to take in more. I do not say that with any happiness. The J.W. is a Bible Believer in Hell as are all the tormented.

The Scriptures teach that salvation and all it’s parts are of God’s grace, Salvation is all of God from Election to Glorification. God grants faith and repentance and belief as gifts of His divine grace, mercy and everlasting love. While the J.W. believes and teaches that salvation is an earned possession and it must be earned by work and this work is the work of J.W. teaching. You must do the works decided upon by the J.W. hierarchy.

I can always spot the J.W. My record is (100%) one hundred percent accurate. This does not speak to my earthly wisdom but my spiritual discernment that is totally of and from God. One of the things i have learned concerning this enemy is the look in their eyes. They all have the same look in their eyes. I cannot explain it and I cannot teach it, I wish I could. The Lord has granted me a certain boldness in order that I might pursue and deal with this dangerous enemy, this spiritual paracite. I can remember my Mom saying when I was very young, “J.W. know their stuff and one must know the Bible in order to deal with them.” I have found this to be true. One should know their Bible before engaging the enemy. However, if you are ever confronted with these devils you must know one thing: all of their teachings are contrary to the Sound teachings of Scripture.

Tips in dealing with the enemy…”(s)atan’s sales people”…”False Witnesses to Jehovah”…Philistines, Arians, Rusellites.

1. Study, learn and commit to memory the Scriptures teaching on Christ’s Deity, The Divine Personhood of the Holy Spirit. The Scripture’s doctrine on Hell, and Salvation. If you have a hard time memorizing the entire verse try to memorize the reference number or write the references and verses on an index card. The truth is simply learn and know your Bible and you will be eqipped to face the enemy. Really, it is not essential to know their false doctrine to combat them, simply know Scripture’s Truth. However, though it be not essential it is a good practice to know your…err rather, God’s enemy.
2. If you are to take part in a discussion with the enemy you must set a time limit and stick to it, otherwise they will go back to their ilk and say they won if you are the first to end the discussion. Therefore let time end the discussion. When the time is met cease all discussion even if it is mid sentence or thought. This is not for pride’s sake but this is to disallow them to claim victory and to provide their ilk with any encouragement.
3. Never go to a formal discussion alone. They will not be alone. Bring someone to look up passages for you while you are trying to demonstrate Scriptural truth. Also your second or third can be praying while you are speaking…this is an absolute and it is essesntial.
4. Look them in the eye or the bridge of the nose, this will throw them off their game.
5. Do not pray with them or ever wish them Godspeed or His blessings…never ever.
6. Do not attend a discussion in the flesh but go in the Spirit. Do not depend upon your abilities or knowledge. Go in the Spirit depending soley upon Him and His use of your God-given and God-enabled tools.
7. Most likely there will be a novice or new convert to J.W. Focus prayers upon this novice, and ask them questions. While ignoring the veteran J.W. at times. Ask questions that will lead them to a sound Biblical answer. You might ask, “God told Moses His Name is I AM THAT I AM in Exodus 3, God also called Himself Alpha and Omega in Isaiah. If a man made those same claims in the New Testament what would he be claiming?” The only answer the novice can give is, “he would be claiming to be God.”   “Do you realize,” you can then say, “Christ made those very claims?”  “So if Christ made those very claims, would He not be claiming to be Jehovah in the Flesh?” You might use Lewis’ Trilemma at this point, Address the novice by name and ask, “Name, Christ must be a liar, a lunatic, or LORD.”  “What say you, novice?”
8. Do not expect an answer but know this person will be asking themselves and the Scriptures many questions. Also ask them why their version of the Bible has been changed so often. Check this out look at the “New World Translation” and see how many times it has been updated.
9. Concerning the Holy Spirit: One might ask the J.W., “Does a force or a power grow angry? make decisions or choices? Does a force or power speak,  Can a force or power be lied to?” If they answer, they must answer, “No.”  You may follow up with, “Then how is the Holy Ghost a force or power when all of these attributes are used to describe Him as a Divine Person?”  Again, do not expect an honest answer.
10. If you are lead by God, offer them an open discussion at their Kindom of Hell…err rather, Kingdom Hall. Tell the J.W. you would be willing to discuss these matters in front of all their fellows. But again, do not ever approach any discussion in your own person. Approach this discussion, debate, contest in the Spirit. Do not rely upon your God-given gifts, but rely upon the Holy Ghost to use those gifts effectively and acknowldge yourself to be a mere vessel in Your Potters Hand or a lifeless sword in the Hands of the Life giving Spirit of God.
11. Look upon the J.W. as being possessed by an outside entity for so they are. They are possessed by unsound doctrine, Scriptural and spiritual deceit, Their dead spirit is quickened for a time by the enemy of God. If or when you come a cross this enemy know you are facing spiritual wickedness as Paul described in Ephesians (4) four. The J.W. is to the soul what an ISIS sword is to a neck and head. One cannot get much closer to (s)atan, himself than when you are in reach of the J.W. The J.W. asks the same question their father asked at the beginning, “Hath God said?” The J.W. wants to throw doubt upon God’s Word just as (s)atan did.
12. Be prepared at all times to face the enemy. We have squared off against the J.W. at our doorstep, at neighbor’s doorsteps, inside of MacDonalds, in restaurant parking lots, in various states of America, online, I have invited myself into a neighbor’s Bible study in order to denounce the J.W. at the right time and to pronounce God’s judgement upon them.
13. If you are well schooled in the truths of God’s Word fear not the J.W.
14. If you are not schooled (and this is to your shame) in God’s Word avoid them at all costs for you are to the J.W. what a baby elk is to a large Lion.

 

Readers, The Children of Israel had to face off against many an enemy in their day. Israel had to defeat many enemies in their advancement to the promised land. You and I also have enemies that must be faced and enemies that must be defeated. These enemies include the old nature, the flesh, the carnal mind, individual sins, weaknesses and…and…and the enemies of God’s truth. By defeating, by overcoming, by overwhelming, by eradicating the enemies of God and His Chosen army, a soul might be saved. The Old Testament warriors attacked that the enemy would fall and perish. We attack the enemy so that they might rise up and live eternally.

Reader, I challenge you… or rather, I charge thee to engage the enemy. Your mission? “Their mouths must be stopped [with truth]” or the enemies of God must be made friends of God.

“Onward, Christ-ian Soldier…”

Do not grieve the Holy Ghost.  (Ephesian 4)

“And Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?…thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost…”  (Acts 5)

 

“Years ago I heard an Evangelist say thses words, “You do not want to mess with theHoly GHost, He is the most sensitive member of the Godhead.” I was at first reminded of Bruce Banner’s (The Incredible Hulk’s secret identity) comment to Mr. McGee (a nosy reporter), “Don’t Make me angry, you would not like me when I’m angtry, Mr. McGee.” He, of course, was referring to himself changing from a mild mannered scientist into the Incredible Hulk when he became insensed. The next though I had was, “Wait a second, while I am familiar with the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, it caused me to try and understand one Member of the Trinity being different from the other Members, in other words, does this mean there is a difference between the Trinity members and if it does, doesn.t that throw a wrench in the doctrine of the Trinity?

Upon thinking about this “contradiction” in Scripture I learned that it may seem paradoxical, but not contradictory. While the it sounds at first like the Holy Spirit is different in temperment than the other Members He is not. While the warning speaks specifically to the Holy Ghost, it is true of the Trinity. For example, while the warning of Acts 5 speaks specifically to the Holy Ghost we are to infer it is true of the Trinity as Peter says, “you have lied to God” This gives the Holy Ghost equality in the Trinity and that the full Godhead was involved.

Also while the Scriptures may give a single Member the majority of the attention or responsibility in an act that responsibility or office belongs the the full Godhead. While Scripture portrays Christ as our Redeemer the Full Godhead was fully involved in our redemtion and Salvation. While the act of Creation isattributed to “God” Alone we learn fromScripture that all Members are given Glory for Creation. Therefore while the Holy Spirit is the most sensitive in terms of responding to man’s insults and blasphemy, the entire Godhead is fully engaged. In other words, when the Holy Ghost judged Ananias and killed him, the Father nor the Son said, “What doeth Thou?” to the Holy Ghost but was in full support and unity in this extreme act of judgement and executuion.

Also Scripture is clear on this teaching. The quoted texts above demonstrate the Holy Ghost’s sensitivity. “Don’t grieve the Holy Ghost” or do not anger the Holy Ghost.., as well as this truth being demonstrated in Acts (5) five. Also in the Gospels Christ warns us of this truth as well. He tells us that man’s blasphemy against The Fath and the Son may be forgiven but basphemhy against the Holy Ghost will not be forgiven in this life nor will it be forgiven in the next.”

Mt reader, please take these warning seriously and do not anger the Holy Ghost.  Why is the Holy Ghost the most sensitive and the most prepared to act upon a sinner in anger? I don’t know all the answers but I can ponder a few possibilites.

1.While all Members of the Godhead have omnipotense, omniscience, and omnipresence, humanly speaking, the Ghost is the closest to us as He is said to dwell inside of us and while it isdoctrinally true that all the Godhead dwell with each other, the Holy Ghost’s Person dwells within us as God the Father is Spirit and is everywhere and Christ Jesus is physically seated in Heaven the Holy Ghost is “Physically” in us.  Also the Ghost is the mind of the Godhead, He it is that reveals the thoughts and intents of the Godhead. Another reason, The Spirit of God is said to be the “Spirit of the Father” and the “Spirit of Christ.” the Spirit loves both Members of the Godhead and is greatly insulted when Either Member is insulted by puny man.

The above are reasons enough for me to accept the Spirit’s sensitivity and to cause me great hesitation in “messing with the Holy Ghost.

Some other reasons to give one hesitation in grieving the Holy Ghost.  In the Old Testament, when God gave a human power to do great and humanly impossible acts, it was said, “The Spirit of God came upon him.”  When David, or Samson, or any person incredible abilities it was the Spirit of God that granted them. David over came lions, bears, and a giant and penned great Psalms and prophesy. The writing of the Old Testament was said to be done under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, Men such as Peter preached to thousands and thousands were converted, and holy men were inspired to pen the New Testament. It was the Holy Spirit  coming upon these men to accomplish these great acts.

In our time, it is the same Spirit that enables us to serve God with gifts that were and are inparted by the Holy Ghost and when we return evil or commit sin as a response, the Holy Spirit is grieved and He will respond in judgement. We are told that “there is a sin unto death” and be it known unto you and me that it will be the Holy Ghost that will execute God’s great judgement and the execition thereof.

We, as Christ-ians owe the Spirit great thanks and great reverence as well as worship and great love. He is never to be thought of as a 93rd) third rate “god” as He is called the (3rd) third Person of the Trinity for “the last shall be first.” The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son.  He it was that enabled Christ to accomplish His “Holy “works” as it is the Holy Ghost that enanbles us to perform and to someday accomplish our Holy Works as well. It is the Holy Ghost that interprets God’s Mind to us and our mind and prayers to God.

Give praise and thanks unto God the Holy Spirit, for it is He that enables us to mortify the flesh and to become more like Christ.  When you find the power to overcome a sinful passion and allows you to say, “No!” to sin and “Yes” to Christ, it is the enabling power of the ever-Present Spirit of God.  When you seek “to be holy for God is Holy” it is the Spirit that makes this possible. When the Word of God is brought to mind or a person it brought to mind and you pray for that person, “think not that it was thee…no, it was He.”

Godspeed, Beloved.

“…[O]ur God is in the heavens: [H]e hath done whatsoever [H]e hath pleased.                                                                                                                                           (Psalm 115:3)

“Give thanks unto the LORD; for [H]e is good.”  (Psalm 136:1)

“Give thanks unto the LORD; for [H]e is…”  (Psalm 136:1a.)

 

The Word of God is so accurate and exacting. In Psalm 115:3, It is written, “…in the heavens…”  Scripture teaches that there exists (3) three heavens. The (1st) or lowest is the clouds above us. The (2nd) second is outer space or the stars, and the (3rd) third is God’s Heavenly abode.  This means that God rules and reigns in all (3) three heavens!  The Word further states in Psalm 23, “Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. God is sovereign over all things, all places, all creation, whether visible or invisible. He reigns over all principalities, powers whether they be corporeal or spirit.  He commands that which is living and that which is non-living. Both the good and the evil are subject to His will. All power and authority are in place and are subject in accordance to His will and good pleasure, “He does all things according to His will.” He puts kings upon the throne and He removes kings from the throne. He gives life and takes life as He is so disposed. There is no one that says to Him, “What doeth [T]hou,” There is none that can stay His ruling Hand, or foil His will. Everything in the heavens and under the heavens are His and He asks…rhetorically, “Can I not do what I will with my own?”  He says, ” I am God and there is no other.”  He says, “The nations are less than nothing before [M]e.”  Reader, our God or rather, “My God is so BIG…so STrong and… and so mighTY; there is nothing…NOTHING…NO-THING He cannot do!!!”  My God is the God of the impossible, He asks…rhetorically, “Is there anything to difficult for [M]e?

“Well then.” the skeptic or the truly honest or hurting believer may ask, “Why is the world so dark and so evil, Why do bad things happen?”  To the scorning skeptic I say…nothing. To the honest and respectful unbeliever I explain that though God is sovereign, this world is a place of evil and a place that lies in wickedness due to the fall. This is a place that is inhabited by people who live to do evil and live to hate. This world is home to those that refuse to do what is right and good and good for them. This is a world that is managed by fallen man and the effect of a fallen world full of sin being managed by fallen man that is sinful inside and out, from head to toe, is a world like we have. I would further explain that those who reject God and refuse what is right and good invariably choose the ways of sin by default and sin will work it’s effects upon them, their life and their loved ones. The [earned] wages of sin is death as are the ways of sin and the path of sin.

I would explain to the hurting Christ-ian that sovereign God uses sin and pain, trials and tribulations to better us and to teach us and to prepare us and that pain is an essential ingredient in our being conformed and transformed into our predestinated Christ-likeness. I would explain that we live and are saved to bring glory to the God we love and the God Who loves us and we will bring Him glory in whatsoever way(s) He chooses.
One can read the events of John chapter (9) nine and see that a man was blind for (38) thirty-eight years for the sole purpose of bringing glory to God when Christ healed his blindness. Lazarus, a friend of the Lord Jesus was allowed to suffer illness and death for the sole purpose of Christ raising him from the dead. This death was allowed for the benefit of His disciples, for God’s glory, to give Christ’s ministry and Word credibility and to instruct and increase our faith.
Our pain is like a women in labour. It hurts much…(I can’t even imagine) but when she is delivered in child-birth the pain is forgotten. We labour in trials but once delivered from the trials and we see what God has done with the trials we forget the pains of the trials as we praise and thank Him.  C.S. Lewis said in his book, “The Problem of Pain,” that “Pain is God’s megaphone to a deaf world.” King David thanked God for afflicting him and he came to learn that the afflictions of life are the signs of God’s faithfulness. God has said, “I hurt that I may heal.”
I believe that what we suffer and endure on this earth, we would gladly suffer if God came to us prior to affliction and said, “Dear One, I am going to bring you into terrible tribulation. You will feel great pain and suffering and feel like I have abandoned you. However, please know that I will never leave thee nor forsake thee and that you will come forth as gold. My grace shall be sufficient and your trial with be worth more to you than gold and silver when you come through it and I will bring you through it, for when the floods rise I will be with you, when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death you will not fear for I will be with thee. Are you alright with my will, Beloved? Will you trust Me?  Will you call upon Me when it gets painful and difficult?”  What would you say, reader? The truth is, He has said all of the above to you and me. He has said it and still says it in His Word.
I have asked persons, after they have experienced a trial, if they wish they could have avoided it or are they glad for the trial as they have seen God’s purpose.  They have all said, They are thankful for the trial and they felt God draw near them and they have seen the fruits of their affliction being a blessing to others.

Dear reader, a bitter word of truth:  The above sounds comforting, I know. The bitter truth is, however, sometimes God will afflict you and He will be silent and feel distant and even absent.  The affliction may end and you may never learn His purposes for your pain. These are spiritual possibilities. We can look at Job- Job wondered where God was during his afflictions, and great pain. He wondered where God was as he was losing everything and everyone. He wondered why God allowed his trials.

Though the Book of Job is helpful to the afflicted today and may provide answers and spiritual balm, Job never got a single answer from God to any of his questions. I’m sure Job understands now as he is “forever with the Lord” but he never was given an answer while on this earth. He certainly received great blessings upon great blessings as God is Sovereign and good but God never provided him with a reason or purpose for His afflictions. I know that if God had approached Job and told him of what was to come and how much it would hurt him and then told him of all the lives his afflictions would help and all the glory it would bring to God, Job would have said in tears and heartbreak, “Not my will but Thine will be done” I know this because because he did say, “Though [God] slay me, yet will I trust [H]im.”
C.S. Lewis, after losing his wife, said he felt like God had shut the door in his face when he sought Him. And when he continued to seek God it seemed God had then not only shut the door but bolted it too. Lewis came to learn that instead of grieving and being angry he should be grateful, thankful and happy that he had a wife to love. And He dwelt upon the hope of seeing her again in Heaven.

“If God is good why all the evil?” We would not recognize the goodness of God if not for the evil in this world. One does not see the stunning brilliance of a diamond lest it has the backdrop of black velvet. We would not know the degree with which God HATES SIN lest we see, by faith, the Crucified Son of God paying or being held accountable for our sin(s).

God’s sovereignty and goodness work together as He works all thingS together for our good even if, from our finite perspective, it does not seem good or right.
Sometimes, in God’s wisdom, He allows us to fall so that He might pick us up. We learn from this experience that God is very Present, and we grow to “[know] that tribulation worketh patience; and patience [works] experience; and experience [works] hope and hope maketh [us] not ashamed. In other words, Pain and loss show us that we are strong in the Lord and that we can and will endure our tribulations. Pain and loss reveals strength and this pain and loss grants us experience and this hard earned experience teaches us to hope in God and not to fret or worry for we have seen this before.

Trials and tribulations brought on from a good and sovereign God or brought on by the enemy, with God’s allowance, or when we bring the trouble upon ourselves this will allow us to say with faith, grace and hope, ….”Been there, done that…what’s next”

It is the trials and the tribulations, the pains and the losses that make us who we are. And again, they are the essential and active ingredients in conforming us, transforming us into the like-ness of our Bless-ed Elder Brother.

Therefore, Since God is Sovereign and Good, all that befalls us must be good and it must be for our good and whatever befalls us it must have God’s Sovereign Seal of Approval.

 

 

 

“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the [W]ord of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”  (Hebrews 13:7)

 

The quoted text above can be worded this way, “Look to those that have spiritual maturity over you, who have taught the Word of God, follow their example, and then consider how they ended their race at death.”

In Scripture and in life we have seen many men and women fall from grace or in other words, many spiritual persons have fallen from their exalted positions as a servant of God. We could list Adam, Eve, Noah, Job’s Wife, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Lot, Lot’s Wife, Saul, David, Bathsheba, Solomon, Peter and many Christ-ian leaders of our time have fallen to scandal. However, we are given insight into the hearts…the contrite hearts of many of the individuals in Scripture and we see that they rise up by God’s grace to their exalted and honoured position as God’s servants.

As a Pastor, Teacher, Preacher, (N.T.) Prophet, Evangelist, Minister, etc. I am a reader of many men and many books.  The Bible being the most read and used, of course. The Bible should be and must be the most used of all our tools. It is the lazy minister that uses other men’s works, outlines, sermons etc. It is a personal conviction with me that we never preach the same message twice. We use very few notes and do not keep written sermons. This is not bragging this is showing that the Scriptures are inexhaustive. While I may preach/teach Biblical principles over and over but I do not rely upon past sermons or notes.  The Manna must be fresh.  For Pastors and preachers to say,  “Yeah but, I’m so busy with the ministry I need to lean upon other men’s work.”  Our job is to read, study, and pray and yes minister to others but the Word is our priority. The Word that is well and rightly preached will minister to the needs of the people.

As a minister of the Word I do look to those who have gone before me. It is useful and helpful to know what other wo/men of God have done, have learned and said. We should read of their exploits, their actions, their motives and their intentions. We should also learn and study their enemies and their actions, motives, and intentions.

It has been said, “Those that ignore and fail to learn from history are bound to repeat it.” This is one reason I believe the President should have a secretary of history as part of his cabinet. Reading the men from the past can help us in the present. It is inevitable that there will be contraversy in the church and the pastor will no doubt have to deal with it and someone will end up being unhappy. One could gain so much help from the books written by men of the past that have experienced this already. Much can be learned from their journals, auto biographies, books of instruction as well as by books written about them. It is arrogance itself to believe it is a waste of time to look to others for assistance. Of course the Scriptures hold answers to our dilemmas. I have learned however that other men may read a passage and glean one thing as I might glean another. It is wise to look to see what others have gleaned from the Word because their gleaning might be different from yours.

In child rearing the Christ-ian parent is well aware of the passage that directs us to “Train up a child in the way they should go…”  Most read that and think, “I should train my child in the ways of God.” This is true. I heard a man once say, “Every Child has a natural leaning in one direction or another. The Parent should train their child in that direction or that way which their child leans.” In other words, If your child is not athletic do not pressure him or her into sports. If they are not gifted intellectually or hate the sight of blood do not direct them to the medical field. If they love police shows and are excited to see police cars, maybe they will lean toward a career in justice…if so, train them in that direction.

I heard a pastor speak on the passage, “….Rightly dividing the Word of truth.” Most read that and think, “I must rightly divide this truth into it’s varying sections.” This pastor, however, believes that to rightly divide the truth, one should know his flock and know how to divide up the truth for their individual needs. I never though of it that way, but what sage counsel. Neither of the men of God from the above (2) two paragraphs are dead, by the way but they make my point, other men and their thoughts should be respected.

As there is nothing new under the sun, there is no problem that you have that is not common to others. Being a saint, a pastor, and a sinner I know that there are things that are difficult to share with others or to express to others or to even seek help or counsel from others. This is where “dead” men  or the sleeping saints can help. There are many books published that contain written correspondenses between men of God and men seeking their help on personal matters. I have looked to the sleeping saints on many a matter. If I wasn’t certain on how to counsel someone or wanted to double check my counsel these saints have been of great value.

Did not the Apostles and Christ, Himself look to the Old Testament to make their points? Did not Paul read poets in order to make his point?

Are we better than they?

“And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and everyone by his neighbor.”  (Isaiah 3:5)

“[C]hildren are their oppressors…”  (Isaiah 3:12a.)

 

There is tactfulness, there is composure, there is proper ettiquette and then there is political correctness. Tactfulness is saying something difficult in a way that should not offend or should show respect. Composure is carrying one’s self with discipline and control, “In patience possess ye your soul.” Proper ettiquette shows respect to an event and to those attending the event. Tactfulness, composure, and ettiquette starting point is respect. Political correctness is about control, fear, and censorship and oppression.

We all know what fear is, what control is, what censorship is, but what about oppression? I give this word the definition of “demon-like possession from the outside.” This definition fits perfectly that which is called political correctness. So political correctness is oppression. Oppression, as we see from Ecclsiastes 7:7, that oppression will surely make a wise man mad. The word wise and the word just can be used interchangeably. Try it when you read the Proverbs. With that said, “Surely oppression maketh a justified man mad…” The word mad does not mean angry, though P.C. doth make me angry. Mad from the Hebrew means “To act foolishly, make foolish.” This word, mad occurs again in Isaiah 44:24,25; “Thus saith the LORD, thy [R]edeemer, and [H]e that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by [M]yself; That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men (worldly or carnal wise men) backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish…

In other words, Political Correctness can drive the Christ-ian Caaaaarazy.  P.C. can turn good into evil and evil into good. Illegal alien is a politically incorrect term, Work place violence has replaced cold blooded murder. Abortion or termination of pregnancy has replace the murder of the innocent. Telling the truth that is based upon God’s objective Word is called hating. Crazy has been changed to mentally challenged. Absolute truth has become your truth, her truth, his truth, and their truth. P.C has already been responsible for the murder of others.

A man knowing that his middle eastern neighbor was stock piling weapons failed to report this because he didn’t want to be though racist, bigoted or politically incorrect!!! The islamic terrorist that lived next door to him killed in the name of (s)atan…err, I mean Allah……no,…. I meant (s)atan. Political correctness stifled this man’s responsibility to report what he saw. This man may be guilty of weakness but it is political correctness that caused his fear. I once saw a vanity license plate that read, “Martyr” on it. It was driven by a person of middle eastern descent. He lived in an area where a terrorist training camp was known or thought to be.  What did I do? I called the FBI and made a report, as I said in the past in my movie, errr in the Batman movie, “If there is a (1%) one percent chance…we must act.”

Much of our Christ-ian speech has already been deemed hateful.  Christ-ians start hospitals, run charities, love their neighbore and we are haters. Muslims crash (2) two airplanes into buildings and kills thousands they are preferred before us. This is the Jews choosing Barrabas over Christ. This is political correctness. Politcal correctness says, speak well and do not offend the people that scare us and are killing us but speak ill of those that have our best interests at heart.  Political correctness is always the choice and an issue with those on the wrong side of things.

Obama was p.c. but Trump is direct and upfront. (s)atan is subtle, Christ is direct and authoritative. A careless “friend” will tell you what you want to hear,  “You look great in that” (while thinking you look immodest), You are so right” (when you are so wrong), A true friend will tell you, “Your breathe stinks,”  “You are wrong,” “You don’t look so great in that,”  or “You need to get right with God right now.”

Political Correctness is a prison of ever tightening chains. Political correctness is the Anaconda that tightens his muscular coils everytime you breathe. Political Correctness is righteousness, goodness, truth, justice, and liberty being squashed. Political correctness is the weapon those that are wrong used to stifle those who are right. Political correctness is the weapon of those that have no real logic or reason to back their silliness or wickedness. Political correctness is used by the feelings centered anti-thinkers against the thinkers that keep their emotions under control. The Politically correct say, ” I feel,” wheras the Morally correct say, ” I think, or I know” based upon an objective source.” The politically correct will get angry and lose control while the morally correct will laugh at them.

Political correctness oppresses, imprisons and kills. The morally correct or those who are simply…correct love liberty, are tolerant and give freedom to others to say what they will, no matter how wrong they are, and the morally correct loves life…all life….to the morally correct, all lives matter…even the politically correct, ie. those who are dead wrong and deadly wrong.

Godspeed to those who will be true, right, just, honourable, and good even to their own hurt as did Christ and all those that loved/love and represent Him now and forever.

“If You love [M]e keep my [W]ord…”  Lord Jesus

“Oh, How I love [T]hy [W]ord”…  (The Psalms)

 

Every verse in Psalm 119 is dedicated to the Word of God, every single verse of the (176) one hundred and seventy-six  verses that comprise that Psalm!!!  Psalm 119 is almost the center of the (150) one hundred and fifty Psalms. Psalm 119 is the longest of all the Psalms, and the Book of Psalms is the middle or the heart of the Word of God. Entire books have been written on this Psalm.

Paul wrote that the Word of God was/is inspired by the God and is profitable in all areas of the Christ-ian life. Peter wrote that the Scriptures were penned by Holy men of old. Christ said that if a person loved Him they would keep His Words and if one was truly His disciple one would obey His words and His words are found only in the Scriptures. Therefore, to obey and to love Him one will be a lover of the Scriptures. A simple logical syllogism,  I love The Lord Jesus; The Scriptures have the Words of The Lord Jesus; Therefore, I love the Scriptures because my Lord’s Words are found therein and I love His Words.

To love and to keep the Words of Christ is the litmus test of one’s love and affection for Him.  To love and to keep His Words is the control if Christ-ianity were a scientific experiment. I suppose one could evaluate one’s love for Christ scientifically.  One loves Christ, He will read and obey Christ’s Words and this can be and should be repeated as this is the scientific method. This is far more scientific as evolution, a science so-called. This means that if one says and does love Christ they will love and follow His Words. And negatively, if they love Him Not they will not love and keep His Words and commands, it really is that simple. Let me repeat myself, Reader, if you Love Christ, you will love and adhere to His Word(s) and if you do not love and adhere to His Word you simply do not love Him or your love has grown cold and or very weak. When a boy first “falls in love” with girl they speak on the phone a lot. If the boy or girl tires of the other the phone conversations will grow shorter and they will come farther apart and the discussions will turn cold.

Signs or proofs of ones love for Christ and His Word:

1. You will read His Word…it’s that simple. If you fail to read His Word(s) you love Him not.  When I receive a note from my wife I immediately open it and read it.  If I receive a note or a card from a loved one I tear it open and read it. If I receive a bill or an advertisement I am not very quick in opening it because I do not love bills or advertisements and I know not the person that sent it. The same is true of a phone call. If I hear the phone ring and I see it is my wife, one of my children, my Mom, or a Pastor friend or a loved one I am quick to respond, if I do not recognize the number, I may not answer it at all. The same is true of God’s Word, how quick are you to read it? How quick are you to seek answers from it? Is The Word of God or prayer your first place of refuge or is doubt, confusion, or worry? This speaks the truth of your affection for Him.
2. Your love is determined by your obedience to His Word. How quick are you to base your choices, decisions, and actions upon His Word?  It’s that simple.  How often is your response or your actions or reactions based upon His Word? How often do you ask yourself, “What would my Lord do, say, or act in this situation or under these circumstances? Children obey and honour their parents because they love them and trust them. They love and trust them because their words and counsels, their love and affections have been tried and proven numerous times.
3. How do you treat His written Word? Do you leave it lying anywhere? Are you comfortable with it being on the floor? Do you leave it in your car until next Sunday? Do you have it within reaching distance? Is it okay to set a drink on it like it is a coaster?  You might say, “Brian, it’s only represents God’s Word, I am showing it no disrespect by treating it this way.” Would you feel the same way if I set my drink upon a representative or picture of your beloved spouse or your child?  I doubt it. Though the picture is only a representation of your loved one. The Bible is one of the only tangible things we have of our Lord. If your loved one has departed and the only thing you have left was a photo of that loved one, would you not keep that photo close? I think so.

One cannot separate the Lord Jesus from the written Word of God.  They are similar in many ways.  Both are called the Word of God, John 1, Revelation 19. Both are eternal. Both are the Communicators of God to man. Both have shed blood in Their/their history. Christ shed His Blood in the completing of His Holy Task as have the God-raised men that have died for the completing of the Written Word of God. Many have died in their obedience to Christ’s Word and will, as did Christ as He obeyed the Father’s will.

To speak clearly and plainly, You cannot love Christ without loving His Word(s). You cannot love Christ and His Word(s) without keeping them and holding to them. This is the proof and litmus test to your love to Him and for Him…it’s just that very simple…so simple.

How can you develop a greater love for Christ and His Word? There are (3) three ways.

1. Reading/Studying them often and closely. How does one fall in love and decide to love another person? By spending time and interacting with a person.  Falling in love and loving someone are (2) two completely different things.  To fall in love speaks to the excitement one feels for another and the longing one has to see and to interact with another. This is due to a chemical reaction in the brain and this chemical reaction will eventually go away and this is why many persons divorce. Many divorce because they have “fallen out of love” and it is true they have. Love on the other hand is the choice to stand by a person through the thick and the thin, the good and the bad, the sickness and the health. It is a decision to live for another and to seek to make that person’s life better than it would be without you. It is to lay one’s life down for the living for another. This is true of Christ’s Word. The excitement of the new birth may not be the “high” it once was  (it is for me) but one continues to be faithful to that love’s demands.
2. Listening to it faithfully preached and taught by persons called to it’s preaching and teaching. One may keep one’s love for the Word by hearing another passionately and faithfully proclaim it. Philip found Nathaniel  after he met The Lord Jesus, he told nathaniel all about Christ and Nathaniel went to meet this Man for himself.  The Samaritans rushed to meet the Messiah after the Samaritan well woman ran and told them of Him. Faith, we are told, cometh by hearing the Word of God proclaimed. Love for the Word is contagious.
   Church with all that it offers, singing, snacks, fellowship, ministry to children, etc. should still be primarily the place to hear and learn the Word of God. Though a Church may provide the above benefits, does it faithfully and passionately preach and teach the whole counsel of God?  If it provides many benefits but is not passionate about the Word of God it is not a Church of God. If the Church is focused and built around God’s Word but does not have all the benefits it is still the Church of God. If you are the type of person that attends a Church because it has a great children’s ministry but you get nothing from the proclamation of Scripture you love not the Word.
3. Proving the faithfulness and power of God’s Word: The faithfulness of God’s Word proves the faithfulness of God Himself. An example: I know a woman that attended a church. She was one of the most faithful and is still one of the most faithful and faithfilled Christ-ians I know. She is a true example of the believer, especially the beliver in trials.  I would rather see (10) ten church members leave before seeing her leave. One day she approached me and told me that she was thinking about leaving. Her reason was due to her husband. He would not attend our Church but would begin attending IF she would leave us and attend a different Church. It was difficult but I counseled her to leave but first she should speak to the Pastor and being true to Scripture the Pastor also suggested that she leave and attend the other Church. It broke all (3) three of our hearts as well as many others to see her leave. Our thought were that her husband would eventually stop attending the other Church and she could return to us. We were wrong. After attending the Sunday services her husband wanted to attend the Wednesday services! Her husband is a different man. He even loves me now. The Scriptures proved true in this woman’s life.
   My wife and I have been true to the Scripture’s instructions to be generous with our finances and we have never wanted for a thing. The Scriptures have been proven faithful time and time again. My trust and love for this Book is well cemented and to be otherwise would be spiritual adultery. Many times have I seen the Word prove itself in the lives of many.

Counsel for interacting and engaging with God through His written Word.

1. Pray prior to reading and studying. Before a british lady meets the queen, she will practice her curtsy, she will prepare to engage and interact with her Queen. We should do no less.   “God, please open thy word unto me.”
2. Pray during your reading/studying of the Word. “Be ye holy for I am [H]oly.” Stop reading/studying, bow your head or look to Heaven and pray, “Let me, Lord, be holy as Thou art Holy. I desire to be holy in my emotions, thoughts, and in my actions. I want to be like my Elder Brother, and Thy Son, the Lord Jesus.” and then continue your interaction with the Word. When you come a cross a “Thou shalt not,” Stop and pray, “Lord, by Thy grace, help me not to feel this way, think this way, or act this way.”  “If you love [M]e you will keep my commandments.”  To this you could stop reading and pray, “Lord, I do love Thee, because of Thy Grace and my love for Thee I strive to obey Thee. But Lord, You know I fail in my striving so I pray Thee, and Thank Thee that Thou remembereth that I am dust. Please forgive me my trespasses and help me forgive others who trespass against me.”
3.  Pray after the reading/studying of God’s Word. Thank Him for the Word, His Faithfulness to His Word, and for the love you have for the Word. Thank Him that His Word is hidden in your heart and that it enables you to sin less and remain faithful to Him. As the saying goes, “The Word of God will keep you from Sin or sin will keep you from the Word.”
4. Prayerfully Apply/prove the Word. After having interacted with the Word and Engaged the God of That Word, you should seek ways and opportunities to apply and prove what you have prayerfully read and prayerfully studied. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  Apply this directive in your daily life. The others are the persons you have dealings with each day. If you show them respect they, in turn, will show you respect lest they be ignorant or uncivil.  When you show kindness to others they will show kindness to you. If you are a loyal friend your friend should be loyal to you.

Having written all of the above we will end with what we started with.  Your relationship, your respect, your love and adherance to Scripture is a direct reflection of your love and relationship with Christ, the respect in which you hold Him,  and to what degree you obey Him and keep His Word(s)…so simple, How will you do on this test?

“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is the spirit of antichrist…”  (1 John 4:3)

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”  (2 John 1:7)

 

Jehovah’s Witnesses are deceivers and have the spirit of antichrist. They believe in deception if it brings victims into the Kingdom of Hell…err…I mean Kingdom Hall. I don’t like calling them Jehovah’s Witnesses because God’s Name is Holy and in vain do they abuse it and blaspheme Him. From Henceforth we shall refer to them as J.W..

The J.W. is to the Christian Truth what Joker is to Me…errr…Batman. The J.W. is to Christian truth what Lex Luthor is to Superman. The J.W. is the archnemesis to Christ-ianity. The J.W. Is not a new cult. The J.W. Cult is thought to have been started by a man called Russell. They were called by some, “Russellites” and like the other “ites” in Scripture they are the enemy. However, their damnable doctrine of demons goes back to the late 200’s nad even as far back as the days of Christ.

In the terrestrial days of Christ, that is to say, when He walked this earth, His adversaries denied His deity. They denied that He was God of Very God…God Incarnate…God in The Flesh…God tabernacling with man… Immanuel or God with us. They tried to murder Him when He took upon Himself the Name of I am That I am.

In the late (200’s) Two-hundreds there was a man…an antichrist named, Arius. He taught that Christ was a created being and not Everlasting God of Very God. The church was close to adopting this doctrine except for one man, raised up by God, Athanasius. He stood strong for the deity of Christ. He was exiled multiple times and was told that the whole world was against him to which he replied, “Then I am against the whole world!” God bless the rebel.  Athanasius fought for truth and eventually won and the doctrine of Christ’s deity was established.

However….This damnable heresy whether it is called Arianism, Russellism, or J.W. , it is false and damnable. Christ said, “Except you believe that I am he, you shall die in your sin.” Please note that the he in that verse is in italics. This tells us that the KJV translators added it for clarification. However, when the he in italics is ignored we have Christ stateing , “Except ye believe that I am…ye shall die in your sins.”  He again claimed the Name I am! In John 8 He claims the Name I am and the religious men picked up stones to murder Him. They knew exactly what He was saying.

We have faced off against the J.W. many times. This morning in fact. The J.W. this morning stumbled all around the I am doctrine. I saw him lying to a man in the McDonald’s parking lot and we attacked. Thankfully the man in the car was not deceived. He understood the doctrine of the Trinity and was not victimized by (s)atan’s salesman. Whenever I see the J.W. (and I have J.W. Radar), I follow them and tell people that they are deceivers. I ask them about Christ’s deity in front of their intended victims, I ask them about Hell in front of their intended victims, I bring out all their damnable doctrine right in front of their prey and usually the prey is warned off.

The J.W. is the spiritual predator, a wolf in sheeps clothing, a deceiver, a manipulator (they bring their children in winter so people will allow them into their homes). They prey on the unchurched, the immigrant, the disgruntled ex church member. Scripture directs us to never allow these false witnesses into our homes and to never wish them God’s blessing or Godspeed. These are those that you can pray against. Ask God to shut doors, to expose their lies, to send dread before them so no one listens to them.

There are many ex J.W.s that have written books and have exposed the wickedness of this cult. Praise God for His mercy as He has saved many from this demonic religion.

If or when you hear their knock at your door and if you choose to cross swords with them, be strong and direct. Usually it will be a team. An old witch or warlock and a newer, younger person (a trainee). Focus on the younger inexperienced person, not to gain an easy win, but to possibly reach him or her with the truth. It is not impossible to reach the experienced liar because nothing it impossible with God but humanly speaking, they have been so brainwashed for so long there’s not much independent thought in them.

You may think I’m harsh but in this case harsh is good and nice is bad. Atleast I don’t kill them like Elijah or beat them like our Lord did the money changers or throw them around by their hair like Nehemiah, or strike them with an animal’s jawbone, or send a bunch of burning foxes in to their homes or slaughter them like Samuel did Agag, or send a stone flying into their forehead like David.

“God has not given us the spirit of fear…”  (2 Timothy 1:7)

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are…”                                                                                                                                      (Romans 6:16a.)

 

I knew a person once that would think everyone should do as they did.  If they started a weight loss regiment then everyone should start a weigh loss regiment. I know that bosses want every employee to read the book they just read because they think this book is THe answer. I get it.

I have been given the gift of boldness so I have no problem in approaching persons on the street, at the store, in the mall, in a parking lot…anywhere and speaking of Christ. I have not always had this gift. I’ve always known that I should speak of Christ but the courage was not present. So I understand the difficulty in sharing Christ.

I also know that there should be no difficulty in sharing Christ. But it’s there.  What is it that causes the difficulty? 1. The flesh, the old man, the old nature. 2. Fear  3. Pride  4. Tapping into Holy Ghost Power.

The flesh kicks or rather wars against anything that is spiritual.  It is the flesh that gets in the way of doing and being right, it is the flesh that causes Sunday morning to be filled with friction and obstacles. It is the flesh that keeps us from speaking about the things we think others do not want to hear. We have been conditioned to think people will be angered and offended by our witness. I have found many, many more times than not people to be gracious and respectful outwardly. Many times people will appreciate the courage of your witness. People are like snakes and dogs, they can sense your fear or worse, your doubt in what you are saying. The flesh can be and must be mortified by the Holy Spirit and renewed and always renewing mind.

Fear is a cruel and mocking task master, fear is without mercy or grace. One cannot serve both Christ and Fear. As it has been said many times, “Courage is not the absence of fear but the over-ruling of fear. Our Lord feared in the garden but his fear was over-ruled by loyalty to His Father and Love to His siblings (you and me). The more fear is over-ruled the less fear will waste it’s time on you. Also keep in mind, most persons will be to terrified to react harshly to your tract, booklet or witness.  It’s like i tell my kids, “The spider is more afraid of you than you are of it.”  We are told many, many, many times not to fear, not to be afraid, to fear not, to fear not their faces, to fear not their words, etc. Once you enter the ‘Fear of the Lord’ all other fear fades away. Once you see God (by faith) all else, everyone else, everythings else shrinks and becomes puny. The great lions in Daniel’s den were kittens to Daniel. The great fire in the furnace was a nice (70) seventy degrees to the (3) three men in the fire because of the (4th) Fourth Man in the fire with them.  We are told that Christ was hungry AFTER His (40) forty days of trial in the wilderness. The great and ferocious lion became a riddle to Samson, and the great giant Goliath became target practice for David.

Pride is the other obstacle, we fear so often because we are too pra pra pra proud. My readers, We must be happy to be come fools for Christ. But before your flesh rears up and says, “Nope…no way.” Let me speak to your spirit.  The word fool in Hebrew and the way Paul uses it means…….wait for it……..wait for it………….Rebel.  Yes! we aren’t expected to act foolish before others, though they may perceive it as such, no we are to be rebels for Christ!  What is it we rebel against? We rebel against the flesh, fear, pride, the world’s fallen system, all that is bad and evil and wrong.  The Christ-ian is a (forgive me) rebel with a cause…the greatest of all causes!!! Yes, We may and can rebel against the nasty looks, the nasty words, the heads that shake, the condescending looks. If you are looking at their condescending looks you must be looking up……look past them and see the Heavens that are declaring God’s Glory.  Each and every man and woman of God has been a rebel against something.  Even the symbol of the Christ-ian fish is swimming against the stream.

Some very practical ways to share Christ and your Faith in Christ:

1. Christ-ian T-shirts are second only to a personal testimony or tract.  People read them. I have one that says, “Every Knee Shall Bow” and it has all the world’s religion’s symbols adorning it as to say, all false ways will bow to THe Way, THe Truth and, THe Life. I would suggest shirts with Scripture instead of witty sayings. Instead of the “1 Cross and 3 Nails = 4given” how about, “Christ Died For Sinners and All Have Sinned”  If this shirt is not available have it made.  A shirt that says, “Repent” speaks volumes.   You can find many shirts on Google Image if you look up Christian t shirts.
2. Use Bible language like, “Amen,”  “Praise The LORD,”  “Hallelu-jah,”  “God Knows, ”  I’ll pray for you,”  “God is Good,”  “God forbid,”  “God Willing/Allowing,”  “Thank You, LORD,” etc. These are not a full witness but these will open the door and others will know who and what you are.
3. Do Right. Simply obey God in all things. Let others know why you do what you do and why you don’t do what you don’t do.  Christ-ians do not steal because “it is wrong” but because God says, “Thou shalt not.”  Christ-ians do not speak truth because it is the best policy but because it is what God wants.  The truth is rarely the best policy, by the way, but we do it even if it is to our own hurt.
4. Ask God for an opportunity…a specific opportunity to speak to someone about Christ. Paul prayed for an open door of utterance. God will open this door and it will be obvious to you.  You might say, “I know this may seem like it is coming from left field but may I say……”  or “I Know this mightb be uncomfortable for both of us but, …..”  or  “Are you a church going man or lady?” or  “You look like you are a believer….” They may say yes and you will have a good time listening to them. If they say, “No” ask them why, especially if they look guilty about it.”
5. Tracts, Booklets, Books, invites to church, invites to Christ-ian movies or concerts or plays. Invite them out with a group of your Christ-ian friends or family.  Invite them to game nite if you have one.
6. Simply ask a person, “Did you know Christ died for sinners?” and see what happens.
7. If you feel fear or shyness, simply tell yourself, “I will probably never see this person again in my life, so hear goes…..” or even better, you may see them again in church and or eternity!!!

 

The more you put yourself or rather Christ out there you will turn “being scared” into something very “sacred,”  We, as Christ-ians, have been predestinated to become like Christ.  My readers, this transformation begins hear and now.  Once one is saved, s/he is told to be baptized by God’s Word and this is the first step in Christ-likeness, which is obedience and committment.  To do good and to teach is another Christ-like action, and to tell of Christ is a Christ-like action. To be compassionate, to be merciful, to be slow to anger, and quick to forgive one who seeks it are all Christlike behaviours.  The closer you walk with God, the more intimate you become with Christ, the more sensitive you become to the Holy Spirit’s direction and instruction the less you will fear, the less pride will you exhibit and be imprisoned by, and the less like the old man you will be and the more like Christ you shall become.

Godspeed