Faith To Go!

The Lord Will (Still) Provide!

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God provided Israel with Manna for 40 years:

He fed their physical need in a place that could not sustain them;
He fed their spiritual needs to remind Israel that He sustained them;
He fed them to encourage dependence on Him and contentment with Him.

When the Manna stopped, God didn’t change, He merely changed the way He provided for Israel. Instead of Manna every day, now Israel had a land flowing with milk and honey. The Promised Land was just a new place for Israel to be dependent on, sustained by, encouraged by, and content with God.

We all go through deserts and difficult times. Sometimes we live in a land that seems to be flowing with milk and Honey. Like Apostle Paul, we must learn to be content with God and what we have regardless of the state we find ourselves. Always remember that in your life God may change how He provides but He’s still the provider.

“I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”, Philippians 4:12-13

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”, Hebrews 13:4-5

He’s still Jehovah, the Lord Who Provides.

Now Get Your Faith To Go!

Believers, Let’s Get in The Fight!

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It’s becoming increasingly harder to understand passive Christians. I didn’t say humble or meek, I said passive. The ‘oh well’, or, ‘whatever’ mentality that allows some to passively participate in questionable activities or conversations in spite of a troubled conscience. It’s the mentality that allows some to feed their minds with more worldly influences that biblical ones. It’s the mentality that causes someone to be a church attendee or member but not engaged or engaging in intentional ministry. It’s the mentality that prevents many from pursuing God with a hunger and thirst and instead causes them to be easily shaken and stirred in their faith.

Why is this a growing problem among professing believers? Because many are not engaged in spiritual warfare, they’re not in the fight. In his book, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, J.C.Ryle wrote:

“True Christianity! Let us mind that word “true.” There is a vast quantity of religion current in the world which is not true, genuine Christianity. It passes muster, it satisfies sleepy consciences; but it is not good money. It is not the authentic reality that called itself Christianity in the beginning. There are thousands of men and women who go to churches and chapels every Sunday and call themselves Christians. They make a “profession” of faith in Christ. Their names are in the baptismal register. They are reckoned Christians while they live. They are married with a Christian marriage service. They mean to be buried as Christians when they die. But you never see any “fight” about their religion! Of spiritual strife and exertion and conflict and self–denial and watching and warring they know literally nothing at all. Such Christianity may satisfy man, and those who say anything against it may be thought very hard and uncharitable; but it certainly is not the Christianity of the Bible. It is not the religion which the Lord Jesus founded and His apostles preached. It is not the religion which produces real holiness. True Christianity is “a fight.”

The true Christian is called to be a soldier and must behave as such from the day of his conversion to the day of his death. He is not meant to live a life of religious ease, indolence, and security. He must never imagine for a moment that he can sleep and doze along the way to heaven, like one traveling in an easy carriage. If he takes his standard of Christianity from the children of this world, he may be content with such notions, but he will find no countenance for them in the Word of God. If the Bible is the rule of his faith and practice, he will find his course laid down very plainly in this matter. He must “fight.” (see * below for citation)

At the realization that the end of his earthly life was near, the Apostle Paul wrote:

“^{2Ti 5} But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. ⁶ For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”, 2 Tim 4:5-8

He was telling Timothy to stay in the fight, and, that there is a reward from the Lord for those who remain in the fight. Paul knew the battle would be long and hard for Timothy just as it had been for him. He realized Timothy would not be able to depend on Paul for advice and encouragement so He told him to put his trust in God’s all-sufficient Grace to get him through. He reminded him of the foundation of his salvation and his ministry, as well as the Kingdom Agenda the Lord has charged him to carry out.

” ^{2Ti 1} Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. ³ Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”, 2 Timothy 2:1-4

Paul’s encouragement to Timothy was meant for us as well. We must live and carry the Gospel each day of our lives in spite of the opposition Satan and this world throw at us. We need to fight as if our Lord is returning tomorrow. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to be our counsel and comforter. We must march through the world with our eyes open to God’s holiness – refusing – rejecting the deceitfulness of the flesh, the world, and the Devil. We must honestly acknowledge the wickedness of this world and refuse to allow it to take hold in our lives – to the point of pain. Our walk with God, our family relationships, and our joy are all at stake. We can fight about cultural, economic, educational, and social issues but these earthly concerns will exist until Christ returns. Meanwhile, people without Christ will die in their sins no matter how successful we are in their worldly battles. To be truly engaged in this fight (this spiritual warfare) we must consider the higher plane of living to the glory of God and of mankind’s need for salvation through Jesus Christ.

Get in the fight. Fight the Good fight.

* – J. C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots,(Great Britain: Evangelical Press, 1879), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: “Chapter 4: The Fight”.

Forgiveness or Bitterness!

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”‘

Matthew 6:14-15

“And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”‘ Matthew 18:34-35

Ok, it’s ‘freedom’ time, time to break the yoke and be set free.

1 – Bitterness (use any adjective you like) is unforgiveness.

2 – Bitterness blocks God’s forgiveness.

3 – Bitterness blocks the victim receiving God’s consolation and peace.

4 – Bitterness forces hypocrisy on the imbittered (pretending to be forgiving but still holding bitterness in the heart and mind.

5 – Genuine forgiveness isn’t absent-mindedness, it is intentionally relinquishing the right to demand someone’s punishment or hold them in contempt, for Christ’s sake.

6 – The benefits of forgiveness are: peace from God; forgiveness from God; Opportunity to demonstrate God’s Grace; a clear conscience with God (not the faux clear consequence which forgives with the mouth but holds contempt in the heart); and so much more.

7 – Forgiveness if freedom – bitterness is bondage.

What to be set free, have peace, and rise above the influence of the flesh – FORGIVE.

#forgivenessORbitterness

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A ‘Better Sinner’? What!?

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Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”, Luke 18:10-14

People who spend their time challenging your integrity (pointing out your flaws and hypocrisies) only want to justify their lack of integrity. They think it will make them feel and look better to others if they can show how bad someone else looks. That was the attitude of the Pharisees which motivated Jesus to tell them that prostitutes and tax collectors would enter the Kingdom before they would.

Don’t get me wrong, if our walk with God is shaky then we need to repent and walk in faithful obedience to the Lord. Let’s not waste our time making someone else look bad in an attempt to make ourselves look good. Pointing out worse behavior in others to minimize our own bad behavior is arrogant and foolish – it won’t improve anything in our lives. We are justified by faith in Christ alone, trusting in His righteousness alone. Our works are worthless without being born again. After we’re born again our works represent our trust, gratitude, and obedience to our Savior.

We need to get over ourselves and off of everyone else. God justifies the faithful and gives grace to the humble, but He resists the proud.

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APOSTASY – DON’T BE FOOLED!

Apostasy (falling away from [abandoning/leaving] the truth or rejecting [opposing] the truth in lieu of what is false) is a clear and present danger in today’s world. An apostate is one claiming to be a true believer but unrepentantly believes and/or practices what is contrary to Scripture. Apostate preachers/teacher and fake churches teach perversion. They do this by adding to or taking away from the truth about God, His Son, Salvation, Sin, Repentance, faith, and holiness. Believers must learn, practice and share the truth of Scripture. This allows believers to recognize false teaching from false teachers and avoid it/them. This is not a personal judgment, this is Biblical spiritual discernment regarding Biblical truth. False teaching leads to false beliefs and false professions of faith.

AVOID FALSE TEACHERS, THEY ARE LIVING UNDER DAMNATION.

Paul wrote –

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”—Galatians 1:6-9

and

BEWARE OF FALSE TEACHERS, THEY ARE SELF-SERVING, SELF-DESTRUCTING AND WILL BRING DESTRUCTION TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW THEM.

Paul also wrote –

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”—Romans 16:17-18

Jesus called facilitators of false faith “blind guides leading blind followers” who will both fall into the ditch of eternal destruction [unless they repent and believe the truth].

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”—Matthew 15:14

It’s time to stop affirming, validating, quoting and promoting false preachers/teacher with their false doctrine in spite of their appeal or popularity. This happens every time you quote them or buy and share their materials. They appeal to the flesh, the world and the Devil. They are looking for sinful gain or to practice sin. By affirming them you affirm their sinfulness, and yours. If you share in their beliefs you will also share in their punishment and destruction.

Test all things by Scripture, submit all things to God in prayer, ask for and seek His sound Biblical truth. Resist what is labeled as truth when it really twists and compromises God’s Word.

I recommend an article on the subject from Gotquestions.org. Please, read, print, and share this article with your pastor. Talk about apostasy with your family and friends. Ask God for wisdom and He will give it to you. He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.

Got Gratitude?

1 Timothy 6:6-8, But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

I had a car with a dented bumper. I couldn’t afford to repair it. It was paid for and it drove well but I couldn’t get over the dent. It offended me. One day someone hit and destroyed my car. Now I had no car. I had to buy another car. Now I was going to have a car payment. I was upset. I wished I had my paid for car with the dented bumper.

Complaining, criticizing and comdemning is a sign of ingratutude. It begins By failing to appreciate what you have, find fault and dissatisfaction with it, and desiring or demanding somethings else. Sadly, this attitude will cause you to lose what you have. That applies to cars … and people too.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

#gratitudeishighlyunderated

Messages & Study Sessions

Jesus is the Source and Strength of the Believer’s Life.

The virtue of faith is not about finding the strength to conquer our flaws or our will to persevere. The virtue of faith is about the transforming work of Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. It’s us denying our will in lieu of Christ’s and existing in his strength. Then our flaws a defeated by Christ’s Spirit and we persevere because He supernaturally sustains us.

It’s time to change the conversation about Salvation and the walk of faith in Christ.

“I am crucified with Christ, never the less I live, yet not I, but Christ who liveth in me” – “Greater is he that is in me”

Strength For the Journey!

There’s an old hymn I love titled, “Precious Lord Take My Hand”. Most people sing it at funerals for those faithful saints who’ve passed into the presence of the Lord. But I prefer to sing it to remind me that I’ve got a journey to complete before I reach that Heavenly shore.

“…lead me on, let me stand. I am tired, I am weak, I am worn”. Nothing personal, but I feel like this when I have those intense weeks of numerous services and hospital visits, bills, chills, spills, sickies, ickies, not to mention preparing for sermons and studies all week long. Sometimes I forget that I need the Lord to renew my strength. I get caught up in the doing. I get wrapped up in the having to get it done. Diligence in ministry is required but we can wear out the mind and body even though the spirit is willing. So this song reminds me to ask God for the strength to make it down the path for today’s part of the journey. I ask for today’s daily bread, daily direction, and daily instructions. I find that when I ask for what I need today I get it. By asking for it I remind myself that my help and my strength comes from the Lord. Remembering He supplies what I need helps me remember to be a good steward of what He has given me. A steward works to please his master and not himself. I desire my labor to be pleasing and honoring to the Lord. So I ask the Lord for the strength to make it on the journey.

Do you need strength? Are you feeling weak and run down? Spend some time with God in study, prayer, and meditation. You don’t need to remind him what you need. Just ask him for what you need and then trust him to do it. “Cuz they that wait upon the Lord … .” – riiiight!

“Precious Lord, take my hand. Lead me on, let me stand. I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light. Take my hand, Precious Lord and Lead Me On.

If you don’t know God, you can’t serve Him.

To be an effective evangelist, missionary, or witness for Christ, you must be saved, sold-out, and surrendered to Him. Until you know Him intimately you can’t truly tell others about Him. Get to know Him and you’ll be a confident and powerful representative for Him.