Monthly Archives: September 2025

Redeemed Through The Blood?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #392

28 Sunday Sep 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Are You Ready, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Redemption or Rehearsal?, Redemption Through HIS Blood, Regeneration, Renewing or Reviewing, Repentance, Restoration, Saved by Grace Through Faith, Saved FROM Sin, SIN, Sin IS the issue

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Redeemed Through The Blood?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #392

“To the praise of the glory of his grace,

wherein he hath made us accepted

in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches of his grace;”  Ephesians 1:6-7

As Paul also told the Colossian believers, almost the same thing.

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:12-14

What is redemption?

Redemption: an act of atoning for guilt…an act or the state  

of being rescued…repurchase of something sold, as to a pawn shop…

Redemption is the act of God’s love in being bought back; in the case of man, being bought back from the penalty of sin, which is death (going all the way back to Genesis chapter 3!)  We must know that sin is the issue, it is the death penalty for all who have sinned, and that includes every human, excepting the God/Man/Savior, Jesus, who did no sin.  He’s the only one.

“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.

25 For ye were as sheep

going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd

and Bishop

of your souls.”  1 Peter 2:21-25

My question is, if you claim to have been redeemed, has it made a difference in your life.  The Apostle John paints a picture for us in his first letter to believers, let’s consider what he calls us to.

“If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

 we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful

and just

to forgive us our sins, and

to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:6-10

How do we “make him a liar”?  We make God a liar when we say we have not sinned—not me, I’m good…I’ve done___!  I’ve been______!  Paul declares the truth that SIN is the issue in his letter to the believers in Rome.

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

But the beauty of God’s plan of redemption, is that we don’t have to stay short of God’s glory, we can find salvation, justification and redemption in JESUS; let’s see what Paul goes on to tell us about this sin issue (Jesus is the cure!)

“24 Being justified freely

by his grace

through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

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;

26 To declare, I say,

at this time

his righteousness:

that he might be just,

and the justifier

of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:24-26

Jesus provided the sacrifice for sin for all who will come to Him in repentance of sin, and faith/belief in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—the only acceptable payment for sin.  Even as Jesus said in John 14:6, “… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”!

And without coming to Jesus, we will face the fate that Paul declares as truth to the Roman believers.

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

To make it simple, have you been born again?  Have you received the “gift of God…Jesus Christ our Lord”?  I pray that you have; but if you haven’t you can call on Him even now, and I’ll leave you with His call to you who don’t now Him. If you do know Him, are you living like the redeemed?  We’ll talk more about that next time.

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!

Rest Or Wrest??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #391

26 Friday Sep 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choose Wisely, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, For Such A Time As This, God's Righteousness Not mine, God's ways are not our ways, God's Wisdom, Godliness will be opposed, Resting In Jesus, Resting Or Wrestling?, Revival or Recycle?, Revive us O God!, The Word, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word, Where are you leading those following you?, Whose Side Are You On?, Wisdom

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Rest Or Wrest??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #391

Just a few thoughts today that I pray will challenge us to consider our ways!  Will we rest in The Lord Jesus or keep trying to wrest things out of His hands and do it “my way”?  Jesus again and again called the people around Him to come; but He also made it clear that only those who heard the voice of His Father would truly come!  Let’s consider a few things that He shared and see where we land.

“At that time Jesus answered and said,

I thank thee, O Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

because thou hast hid these things

from the wise and prudent,

and hast revealed them

unto babes.

26 Even so, Father:

for so it seemed good in thy sight.

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father:

and no man knoweth the Son,

but the Father;

neither knoweth any man the Father,

save the Son,

and he to whomsoever the Son

will reveal him.

28 Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:2530                   (See 1 Corinthians 1)

Jesus called us unto Himself, those who didn’t “know it all”!  Those who “knew it all” were ever standing against Him.  The same is happening today—as it has since the beginning; we can go all the way back to Genesis chapter 3!  Adam and Eve thought what Satan said made more sense than obeying God!  Cain thought if he got rid of Abel, he would be better off, for Abel obeyed and Cain did it his own way (which is never acceptable to God!) Jacob took some 20+ years to find out that God’s way is always right and best!  How about you and me?  Are we taking on the yoke that Jesus calls us to or doing it on our own—for surely ‘my ways’ are more efficient, more productive, more beneficial, more lucrative, more fun…you fill in the blank…than God’s ways!

We find that even in His own ministry, Jesus watched people come and go, even those of His closest circle.  Don’t expect any less, Jesus told us it would be so.  I implore you to consider all that you hear and see and compare it to God’s Word not simply what you see and/or hear.  And let me preface what we’re going to look at by simply reminding you that “speaking the truth in love” is not hateful; if I show you biblically that something is wrong, I am trying to save you from heartache, pain or even hell!

“These things I command you,

that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him that sent me.

22 If I had not come and spoken unto them,

they had not had sin:

but now they have no cloke for their sin.

23 He that hateth me

hateth my Father also.”  John 15:18-23

And backing up a bit in the timeline of Jesus ministry, there came a time when He began to teach harder and harder things for the people to comprehend, let’s see what some of the response was to our Lord Himself.

“Many therefore of his disciples,

when they had heard this, said,

This is an hard saying;

who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself

that his disciples murmured at it,

he said unto them,

Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man

ascend up where he was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth;

the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you,

they are spirit,

and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not.

For Jesus knew from the beginning

who they were that believed not,

and who should betray him.

65 And he said,

Therefore said I unto you,

that no man can come unto me,

except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time

many of his disciples went back,

and walked no more with him.”  John 6:60-66

So, as simply as I know how, I want to ask each of us to consider our ways.  Are we going to wrest things out of God’s hands again and again; or are we willing to “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me”?  Do we want to “find rest unto your souls”? Or will we continue to wrest things out of God’s hands and take the wheel for ourselves?  I’ll simply close with Jesus’ own declaration!

“Jesus answered them,

I told you,

 and ye believed not:

the works that I do in my Father’s name,

they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not,

because ye are not of my sheep,

as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

 29 My Father, which gave them me,

 is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

31 Then the Jews took up stones again

to stone him.”   John 10:25-31

Are your hands folded in prayer or about to throw rocks?  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.

Amen and Amen!!!

Where’s The IF??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #390

24 Wednesday Sep 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Brighten Your Corner!, Broken Hearts, Jesus lives today!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus prayed, Jesus Saves!, Renewing or Reviewing, Repentance, Responding Rightly, Responding to God's call to share the Good news., Responding to the call!, Resting Or Wrestling?, Restoration

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Where’s The IF??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #390

I have seen a lot of things going around on social media and people referring to 2 Chronicles 7:14, but not quoting it, just making a loose paraphrase of it, and then asking people to pray “this prayer”, yet in seeming to be scripture they ask God to “banish what isn’t of Him”!  Excuse me!  There is a day coming when God will certainly banish all that isn’t of Him, but that is the judgment—not now.  Now God has truly called us to be salt and light, not to cling to our own pet sins (mine are ok, yours are not-mentality).  But that isn’t what God says!  So I will simply let scripture say what scripture says in context; you be the judge.

“And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night,

and said unto him,

I have heard thy prayer,

and have chosen this place to myself

for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain,

or if I command the locusts to devour the land,

or if I send pestilence among my people;

14 If my people,

which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:12-14

This was God’s message to Solomon at the dedication of the first temple, and God let Solomon know that the people would go into sin, and when they did, HE would discipline them; yet God told Solomon that the turnaround was up to them!  And when we read the scripture, we see that again and again the people sinned grossly—just like us!  So God told Solomon there was a cure, but it came with a great big IF! God’s people—not the world—must be ready to repent!

The IF that most don’t want to talk about!  But clearly God calls us, those called by His name, the people of GOD Almighty, for those called by the name of HIS SON, Jesus Christ The Lord—Christians!  And may I add that just saying so, doesn’t make it so. As Jesus himself said, “ye must be born again”! And if we are of the “born again” congregation, God is calling us also to fall on our faces and,

“shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways “!

And I must say, with all the hoopla going around about revival, I think God is waiting for us to humble ourselves before Him, pray in earnest, seeking HIS face, and being willing to turn from our “wicked ways”!  Where are the tears of conviction?  Where are the hearts broken over sin?  Where are the fires of holy living igniting?  I’m longing to see it—especially in me—but also in those who claim the name of my Lord Jesus!  As I wrote last time, as James said, “sweet water and salt water don’t’ flow out of the same fountain”!  May we truly seek God’s face to revive ‘ME’! And you!  And all of His own!  As Paul said, I cling to the cross, I pray that you will meet me there in earnest desire for God to move among His own—and God knows those who are His!

“For I determined not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ, and him crucified…

…5 That your faith should not stand

in the wisdom of men,

but in the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:2 & 5

And just so you’ll know what the Gospel is, I’ll simply close with Paul’s great “gospel in a nut shell” passage.  Please look up and not around!

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel

which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Oh, precious Jesus, touch our hearts, speak your truth to us that we may live for you according to your Word.  May we truly come to you in repentance (anew for those of us who are already saved) and faith in your substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin!  Thank you for hearing our prayer!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

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.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

Amen and Amen!!!

What’s Your Fountain Saying??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #389

22 Monday Sep 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, Only One Way, Open The Door to JESUS, Opposition to Godliness, Order my steps, Our God Reigns, Out of the heart, Overcoming By His Blood, Signs of the times?, SIN, Sin IS the issue, Sowing and Reaping, Speaking The Truth In Love, Spiritual Drought, Springs of Living Water, Standing in the GAP!, Sweet Words or Bitter Words?, Take Up YOUR Cross, Words Can Help or Harm?, Words Matter

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What’s Your Fountain Saying??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #389

As I have observed the things going on around us, not just in America, but throughout the whole world recently.  I see us in what Isaiah said of his people.  We are in need of the coals off of God’s fire to cleanse our lips; not just vulgar talk, which seems to come out of every mouth (especially those of public and popular folks), but the mean-spirited talk, the hate-speech (so-called), the language that demeans, ridicules and calls by unkind names and descriptions.  I want to spend some time today looking at the call of scripture to be a holy people, speaking not only “holy” words, but words of truth that are spoken in love to call the listeners to turn to the cross, not the gutter!

“And one cried unto another, and said,

Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts:

the whole earth is full of his glory.

4 And the posts of the door moved

at the voice of him that cried,

and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then said I,

Woe is me!

for I am undone;

because I am a man

of unclean lips,

and I dwell in the midst of a people

of unclean lips:

for mine eyes have seen the King,

the LORD of hosts.

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:

7 And he laid it upon my mouth,

and said,

Lo, this hath touched thy lips;

and thine iniquity is taken away,

and thy sin purged.

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,

Whom shall I send,

and who will go for us?

Then said I,

Here am I;

send me.

9 And he said,

Go, and tell this people,

Hear ye indeed,

but understand not;

and see ye indeed,

but perceive not.

10 Make the heart of this people fat,

and make their ears heavy,

and shut their eyes;

lest they see with their eyes,

and hear with their ears,

and understand with their heart,

and convert,

and be healed.

11 Then said I,

Lord, how long?

And he answered,

Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant,

and the houses without man,

and the land be utterly desolate,” Isaiah 6:3-11

I would like to start at verse 5, for until we have seen God for ourselves, we will never see our sin before the “King, the LORD of hosts”; not the earthly king who was on the throne of Judah, but God Almighty The King of all creation—the very creator of all.  And just like Isaiah, until we see God—Father, Jesus The Son, and the Holy Spirit in reality, we will never see our sin!  And until we see our sinful self, we have no need of a Savior!  Isaiah saw himself as he was—a sinner in need of a redeemer; and when he recognized His need, God saved and cleansed him!  And God will do the same for us, but we must see ourselves as sinners before we will ever come to Jesus!  It’s my story and it can be yours, if you’ll but listen for His voice and heed His call to your heart (See Revelation 3:20, where Jesus says He is knocking at the door—don’t miss His call!)!

Let’s not miss the rest, for after the angel touched Isaiah’s lips and cleansed and redeemed him from his sin, he was able to hear God’s call; and hearing the call, he responded with availability to God’s call, even though the message was a hard one.  Read again what God told him: they’ll see you without seeing; they’ll hear you without hearing; they’ll have hearts but won’t comprehend how much I love and care for them.  They had gone so far that God Himself said they were gone so far astray that they wouldn’t even understand the urgency of their own need to, “see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed”!  How close is our world to this state of being?  Oh, how my heart bleeds for people to see, and to hear God’s call to salvation and holiness!

Then there’s the saddest thing to me; Isaiah asked the hard question, “Lord, how long?”; how sad that Isaiah answered the call to preach, even to a people who wouldn’t (for the most part) hear or heed his message from The Lord!  Oh, my, I can’t help but see this attitude in our culture.  Even in the present crises going on all around us, people aren’t really willing to hear God’s Word—either the written Word of God or respond in faith and obedience to the Living Word, Jesus!

But what about those of us who truly belong to Jesus; what are we doing?  What are we saying?  Is our life an example of holiness or have we become so influenced by the world that our testimony reeks of the sinful world rather that our Holy God?  Jesus himself talks about our speech—the indicator of the heart!

“O generation of vipers,

how can ye, being evil,

speak good things?

for out of the abundance of the heart

the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man

out of the good treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man

out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you,

That every idle word that men shall speak,

they shall give account thereof

in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words

thou shalt be justified,

and by thy words

thou shalt be condemned.”  Matthew 12:34-37

Words do matter!  Jesus said even more about the connection between the mouth and the heart.  Oh, may we take His words to heart and examine our speech, our actions and how we are affecting a lost and dying world.  Are we drawing people to the cross or just blending in?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test coming!

“Do not ye yet understand,

that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth

goeth into the belly,

and is cast out into the draught?

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth

come forth from the heart;

and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed

evil thoughts,

murders,

adulteries,

fornications,

thefts,

false witness,

blasphemies:

20 These are the things which defile a man:

but to eat with unwashen hands

defileth not a man.”  Matthew 15:17-20

In our vernacular, Jesus makes it clear that it isn’t a matter of cleaning up the outside, but to have a transformed heart, so that Jesus can be seen in us—words, actions and attitudes!  Paul had a few things to say about this, he called us to die to self and live unto Jesus, and to stand up and out for righteousness and not be like the world! I encourage you to take Paul’s message to his “brethren” (and sisters) to heart!  I would encourage you to compare verse 3 below to Romans 8:29, and ask God to reveal to me and you what we are we conforming to?  Jesus or the world?

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

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.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think

soberly, according as God hath dealt

to every man

the measure of faith.” Romans 12:1-3

In trying to bring this to a close, I want us to consider the message that James gave to believers—are we spewing the trash of the world, or pouring forth the truth of Jesus’ Word, knowing that real faith is proved by our actions (not just our words!).  What’s coming out of your mouth?  What’s in your heart?

“For every kind of beasts, and of birds,

and of serpents, and of things in the sea,

is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8 But the tongue can no man tame;

it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith

bless we God,

even the Father;

and therewith

curse we men,

which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth

blessing and cursing.

My brethren,

these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth

at the same place

sweet water

and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries?

either a vine, figs?

so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge

among you?

let him shew out of a good conversation

his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if ye have

bitter envying and strife in your hearts,

glory not,

and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above,

but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” James 3:7-15

So, the question is this, “Am I/are you full of sweet fresh water of God—the refreshing, redeeming, renewing water of God?  Or have we been so influenced by the world that rather than being conformed to “the image” of The Son of God, we have gone the way of the world and become worldly salt water?  Have we taken the easy road—as Jesus talked about, that “broad way that leadeth to destruction” or have we recognized the Lord of the cross and chosen to walk with Him down the “narrow road…that leadeth unto life”? His way is the only way to God—to heaven—to eternal life with Jesus!  I pray that you will ponder these things; think about Isaiah and consider whether you have seen the Holy God, and bowed before Him in repentance and faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for my sin and yours?  It is truly your choice!  But choose wisely, there is a test!  Paul painted an amazing picture.  You will bow!  The question isn’t “if”; but the question is when will you bow?  Will you bow before Jesus as your Lord and Savior while He is calling?  If you don’t, you will bow before King Jesus, the judge with no opportunity for grace.  I’ll simply close with John’s revealing words.

“And I saw the dead, small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works…

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written

in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”                                                Portions of Revelation 20:12-15

Amen and Amen!!!

Where is your name written?  What’s in your heart?  Your mouth?

What’cha Doing With What’cha Know? A Word from THE WORD! #388

19 Friday Sep 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A heart of faith, All About Jesus!, Are you clean?, Are you ready for Jesus' return?, Are you training your children, Ask God For Wisdom, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Good News, Gospel, Grace, Guard Your Heart, Guard Your Mouth, Have you not heard, Have you not seen?, He Died That We Could Live, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Knows, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all

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What’cha Doing With What’cha Know? A Word from THE WORD!!! #388

It’s hard to escape all the clutter and clatter going on around us!  What are we to do?  I think the scriptures can help us make our way through all the fog, failure and frustration of this world.  Let’s just dive in.

       “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

              with so great a cloud of witnesses,

       let us lay aside every weight,

       and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

       and let us run with patience

              the race that is set before us,                 

       2 Looking unto Jesus

              the author

              and finisher

                      of our faith;

                             who for the joy that was set before him

                                    endured the cross,

                                    despising the shame,

                             and is set down at the right hand

                                    of the throne of God.

       3 For consider him that endured

              such contradiction of sinners against himself,

       lest ye be wearied

              and faint in your minds.” Hebrews 12:1-3

We must keep our eyes on the prize—JESUS—who has promised to bring us to glory!  And this “great a cloud of witnesses” isn’t the picture of a great stadium with fans cheering us on!  No, it’s a reference to chapter 11 just previous and the faithful saints who have gone before us—some rich, some poor, some seemingly unsuccessful to the world, some who were persecuted and suffered depravation and torture, even unto death, yet they trusted God to the end!  These are our “witnesses”, testifying by their lives that their faith was in God Almighty, and the one who would come to pay for our sins; The One who came in flesh, the God, Man, Savior!  The One who lived in flesh and “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”  While we won’t be ‘sinless’ in this life, we can have a heavenly mindset, fixed on Jesus, and live a holy victorious life. How?  We must be sure we know truth—and truth IS Jesus!  The more I know Him, not just know about Him, but know HIM in a personal relationship that we each can have, then seeking to have more of His reflection shine before this dark world.

So, what’s your focus?  Who’s your focus?  When we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, by being born again, in repentance of our sin and trusting/believing in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for that sin, then we need to dig into The Word and find out what God says a faithful walk in Jesus looks like; we are to live and pursue holiness in the work that God has prepared for us to do.  What are you doing with what you know?  Are you in the The Word finding out what you need to know about God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, the work that HE has for me/you?  Don’t let the enemy distract and diffuse your journey with Jesus!

       “For by grace are ye saved

              through faith;

                      and that not of yourselves:

              it is the gift of God:

       9 Not of works,

              lest any man should boast.

       10 For we are his workmanship,

              created in Christ Jesus

                      unto good works,

                             which God hath before ordained

                                    that we should walk in them.”    Ephesians 2:8-10

Salvation is all of God!  God created us knowing beforehand that we would sin, yet He created us anyway and had already provided the plan for our redemption; the the Lamb of God, Jesus, to come and pay for the sin of all who will come to Him in repentance and faith in the truth that His blood paid for our sin.  But He doesn’t just save us from sin, for God has set works of righteousness before us to accomplish!  Not works to get saved by earning our salvation but works of righteousness that are to be a reflection of the God who lives within us when we are saved; especially before a world lost in darkness, sin and deception.  Are you and I walking in the truth of His Word?  And my friends, you have to get into The Word to get anything out of it!  It’s all about God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—don’t get focused on men, but keep your eyes fixed on Jesus!

       “O the depth of the riches

              both of the wisdom and                   

              knowledge of God!

       how unsearchable are his judgments,

       and his ways past finding out!

              34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord?

              or who hath been his counsellor?

              35 Or who hath first given to him,

               and it shall be recompensed unto him again?                      

              36 For of him,

              and through him,

                      and to him,

                             are all things:

              to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”   Romans 11:33-36

It’s all about Jesus—not me (or any other person)!  But when we belong to Jesus there should be a true reflection of Him to the world, in our daily living!  What are you reflecting?  Are you a “doer” of His work, or only as “hearer of the word”?     I want us to consider what James had to say about this, especially in light of recent days—days when everyone seemingly has a word, a thought, an opinion, and they all think their thoughts belong in the public eye!  Stop letting the world, the media, social media, or popular culture dictate what you believe, know and choose to stand on!  Some information may be true, much is not; but God’s Word stands true to this day and will until the end of time!  What do you know to be true?  Did God say so?  Do you know God?  If you know Him, are you reflecting His truth and glory, or the are you covered with the stains of the world?  Do you know His Word?  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.

       “Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

              let every man be                

                      swift to hear,

                      slow to speak,

                      slow to wrath:

       20 For the wrath of man

    worketh not the righteousness of God.                                

   21 Wherefore lay apart

              all filthiness

              and superfluity of naughtiness,

       and receive with meekness

              the engrafted word,

                      which is able to save your souls.

       22 But be ye doers of the word,

              and not hearers only,

                      deceiving your own selves.       

       23 For if any be a hearer of the word,     

              and not a doer,

       he is like unto a man beholding

              his natural face in a glass:

       24 For he beholdeth himself,                   

              and goeth his way,

\            and straightway forgetteth

                      what manner of man he was.

       25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,                         

and continueth therein,

       he being not a forgetful hearer,

              but a doer of the work,

                      this man shall be blessed in his deed.

       26 If any man among you

              seem to be religious,

              and bridleth not his tongue,

                      but deceiveth his own heart,

              this man’s religion is vain.

       27 Pure religion and undefiled

              before God and the Father is this,

                      To visit the fatherless and widows I

                             n their affliction,

              and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”   James 1:19-27

Which path are you choosing?  And yes, we are free to choose, but we are not free to set the consequences of those choices; and there is a day coming when you will be faced with the consequences of your choices!  Jesus warns us about the choices and calls us to choose wisely for the consequence are evident if we will but pay attention.  Remember just saying so, doesn’t make it so!

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves…

….21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils? and

in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Portions of Matthew 7:13-23

And in closing the words of our Shepherd.  Do you know Him?  I pray that you do, and if you don’t that you will call on Him today in repentance and faith in His sacrifice for you and me!  He makes it clear that HE knows His own, and Paul confirms this also.

“I am the good shepherd,

and know my sheep,

and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me,

even so know I the Father:

and I lay down my life for the sheep…

…27 My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

 is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:14-15 & 27

And as Paul said:

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,

having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”  2 Timothy 2:19

Amen and Amen!!!

What’cha doing with what’cha know?

Choose wisely, there is a test!  (Read Revelation 20:11-15)