Category Archives: Fickle or Faithful

Where Are You??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #479

04 Friday Sep 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All About Jesus!, All things that pertain to life and godliness, Almost But Lost, Amazing Grace, Apart from ME you can do nothing, Fickle or Faithful, Filled With His Spirit, Follow Jesus, God's Call, God's glory NOT mine!, God's Presence Not Presents, God's Righteousness Not mine, Godliness will be opposed, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus lives today!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!

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Where Are You???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #479

“Wherefore the Lord said,

Forasmuch as this people draw near me

with their mouth,

and with their lips

do honour me,

but have removed their heart

far from me,

and their fear toward me

is taught by the precept of men:”  Isaiah 29:13

I pray that we will consider where we are in relation to God; it’s not where you are, but if you are where God is.  But by the same token –God is where you are even when you don’t want Him to be.  It’s your choice, but as I often say, choose wisely, there is a test.  We see above that God speaks truth always for HE is truth. What are you doing with God?  Are you like one of those above, talk the talk, and appear to do the ”right things” to please God, but as God says above, are you one who has “removed their heart far from me”?  Are you listening to the ideas of men or are you steeped in God’s Word for your foundation and your walk? It makes a difference.

“Now the Lord is that Spirit:

and where the Spirit of the Lord is,

there is liberty.

18 But we all,

with open face

beholding as in a glass

the glory of the Lord,

are changed into the same image

from glory to glory,

even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Paul has a lot to say about the indwelling Holy Spirit and I’d like to share some passages from the book of Romans; I pray that they will help each of us assess our lives and make sure that we, first of all, are born again and know Jesus personally, and that we understand that when we are born again, The Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us and give us aid, guidance and directions.

“There is therefore now no condemnation

to them which are in Christ Jesus,

who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus

hath made me free

from the law of sin and death.”   Romans 8:1-2

 

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”  Romans 8:8-9

Whose are you?  Do you belong to Jesus?  Are you blood bought, redeemed and saved by faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin?  I pray you are; and if you’re not, you can be!  Today!

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,

they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit

of bondage again to fear;

but ye have received the Spirit

of adoption,

whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness

with our spirit,

that we are the children of God:

17 And if children,

then heirs;

heirs of God,

and joint-heirs with Christ;

if so be that we suffer with him,

that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings

of this present time

are not worthy to be compared

with the glory

which shall be revealed in us.”  Romans 8:14-18

And two of my favorite passages from Romans chapter 8; I pray that these words from The Word will encourage your heart to seek The Lord’s face, knowing that He is supplying our every need, and if we will but heed His Word, He will guide our every step!

“Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known

unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things…

…. 13 I can do all things

through Christ which strengtheneth me…

… 19 But my God shall supply

all your need

according to his riches in glory

by Christ Jesus.

20 Now unto God and our Father

be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”   Portions of Philippians 4:6-20

So let’s pull this all together with more from Romans chapter 8 and a word from Jesus himself.

“These things have I spoken unto you,

being yet present with you.

26 But the Comforter,

which is the Holy Ghost,

whom the Father will send in my name,

he shall teach you all things,

and bring all things

to your remembrance,

whatsoever I have said unto you.

27 Peace I leave with you,

my peace I give unto you:

not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid.”  John 14:25-27

And some words of great import from Paul!

“Likewise the Spirit also

helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not

what we should pray for as we ought:

but the Spirit itself maketh intercession

for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession

for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.”  Romans 8:26-29

And in closing some of the greatest words of encouragement from our brother Paul.  Remember that when we belong to Jesus, we are called to Him, saved by His blood, and kept by His eternal power.  We can ever be near to our God, no matter the times, the trials or our circumstances.  Take heart my friends, We Win!!!

“As it is written,

For thy sake we are killed all the day long;

we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay,

in all these things

we are more than conquerors

through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded,

that neither death,

nor life,

nor angels,

nor principalities,

nor powers,

nor things present,

nor things to come,

39 Nor height,

nor depth,

nor any other creature,

shall be able to separate us

from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:36-39

We can be inseparable from God, when we are “in Jesus”!  How glorious to know that we can be where God is, and that God is always where we are, for if we are born again, He is dwelling in us!!! It’s your choice my friend, but choose wisely, there is a test.

Amen and Amen!!!

Comfortable Or Committed??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #374

10 Sunday Aug 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Comfort, Commitment Or Convenience, Confidence, Conformed or Transformed?, Conformed to HIS image, Crucified With Christ, Do You See What God Sees?, Every Knee Shall Bow, Eyes that SEE HIM, Fickle or Faithful, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Freedom To Or From?, God Who Sees, God's Call, God's Faithfulness, God's glory NOT mine!, God's Time, God's ways are not our ways, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Ready or NOT Here Jesus Comes!, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Redemption Through HIS Blood

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Comfortable Or Committed???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #374

A passage that we considered recently is one I want to revisit today, but from a different perspective; as you can tell from our title, I want us to assess our life with Jesus!  What have we set our eyes on?  Are we set on being comfortable or committed to whatever Jesus has called us to.

“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

Jesus has called us to “lay aside” some things, and to “run with patience” the race that He has set before us; keeping our eyes fixed on Him, because He alone can lead us in the right path. He is the only way to God—the only way of salvation!  And apart from Jesus we have no hope, as Jesus tells us, we must be in The Vine and “abide in HIM”!

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”  John 15:5

We are called to bring forth much fruit, and that can only happen when we abide in The Master, Jesus; for HE is the vine, not us—we are but branches and dependent upon our attachment to the vine—Jesus!  We can do that as we determine to be committed to Jesus regardless of the difficulty or discomfort.  We get into trouble when we choose comfort over commitment; when we choose frivolity over frugality (being wise stewards over all, not just finances); do we exercise impact spending over impulse (again not just talking about money, but time, talents, desires, and focus)!  It’s so easy to get caught up in social media, ad-fed spending, entertainment distractions, any number of things—you can fill in the blank of the things that try to draw us away from our commitment to Jesus!   Let’s consider a couple of passages that give us good guidance and food for thought as believers to continue to abide in The Vine—Jesus!

“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.”  Romans 12:1-2

And Peter’s inspired advice. (And FYI, conversation=lifestyle.)

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

 not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

 Be ye holy;

for I am holy.

17 And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons

 judgeth according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God,

that raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith and hope might be in God.”  1 Peter 1:13-21

It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!

Amen and Amen!!!

Wise And Harmless??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #230

21 Friday Jun 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Fickle or Faithful, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Harmless As Doves, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Persecution, Perseverance, Sheep amongst Wolves!!!, Suffering With Jesus, The Word, Wise As Serpents

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Wise And Harmless??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #230

“Behold,

I send you forth

as sheep

in the midst of wolves:

be ye therefore wise

as serpents,

and harmless

as doves.

17 But beware of men:

for they will deliver you

 up to the councils,

and they will scourge you

in their synagogues;

18 And ye shall be brought before

governors

and kings

for my sake,

for a testimony

against them and the Gentiles.

19 But when they deliver you up,

take no thought

how

or what ye shall speak:

for it shall be given you

in that same hour what ye shall speak.

20 For it is not ye that speak,

but the Spirit

of your Father

which speaketh in you.”   Matthew 10:16-20

I am so sorry to have been absent for a week or more, but we have been traveling, and then we both got sick and had to cut our trip short, and we are still wrestling with this “crud” that we have.  We praise God that it isn’t the flu or Covid, but this cough is a killer, and this is the first day in a week that I’ve felt up to even thinking, much less writing—but thank You Jesus, I have a few things to share with you.  A call to a consideration of what our Lord cautioned His disciples about.  If I do say so, it is a most timely warning for us as well.

As we consider this account of Jesus’ words to His disciples as He sent them out to minister the Gospel, of what would lay before them—but He goes even farther, if we will but take note, to a future after He departed from them, and the difficulties that would come from being His followers.  He told them, and us, that men wouldn’t always respond positively to His message, but that they would be persecuted, ridiculed, and even imprisoned for the truth about Jesus!  Oh, how often we allow the thinking of the world to invade our ministry, in that we want to appeal to the flesh and call people to an “easy beleiveism” which is totally foreign to the biblical truth of the Gospel which Paul so aptly presents to us in his letter to the Corinthian believers; it’s not a message of just claiming the name of Jesus, but seeing our SIN and HIS payment for it, and trusting to Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary for our salvation.  A repentant turning from sin to Jesus, the risen Lord; trusting to, and believing in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for SIN—my sin!

“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 15:3-5

Jesus makes it so clear that HE sends us forth–never go in your own power, for it will likely fail, or you can be misled and/or mislead others, simply put, we just won’t be where we need to be because we won’t be where Jesus wants us to be; but when we are sent by our Lord and follow His leadership (by the power and presence of The Holy Spirit of Jesus/God) we may or not see results that we expect, but Jesus makes it clear that we are “sheep” being sent out among “wolves”!  Contrary to popular culture and popular philosophy, it isn’t safe to ‘follow your heart’.  We must follow Jesus by the direction, power and provision of His Spirit. I have learned to trust God and His Word way, way more than my own heart.  Jeremiah made it very clear; but apparently, we would rather trust to the words of men over God’s!

“The heart is deceitful

above all things,

and desperately wicked:

who can know it?

10 I the LORD search the heart,

I try the reins,

even to give every man

according to his ways,

and according to the fruit

of his doings.”  Jeremiah 17:9-10 

We must learn to depend upon God’s leading in our lives; oh, to walk more closely to Him each day.  Jesus gives us the order of things, if we will but hear and heed—

go as we’re sent–

beware of men—

trust to Jesus even in the crises—

when called to speak, trust to the Spirit and His Word—

       (that which we have hid in our hearts–)!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart:

try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

“Wise as serpents…harmless as doves….”

Amen and Amen!!!

Hindering Revival??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #224

26 Sunday May 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Choices And Consequences, Choose Gratitude and show it!, Choose Wisely, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Christ IN YOU, Confidence or Presumption?, Conformed or Transformed?, Conformed to HIS image, Fickle or Faithful, REvival, Revival or Recycle?, Righteousness exalts a nation, Transformation, Transformed life, Trendy Or Truth

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Hindering Revival??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #224

“Wilt thou not revive us again:

that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD,

and grant us thy salvation.

8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak:

for he will speak peace unto his people,

and to his saints:

but let them not turn again

to folly.

9 Surely his salvation

is nigh them that fear him;

that glory may dwell in our land.”  Psalm 85:6-9

So what is revival?  Revival is a renewal of the living, not a raising of the dead (in other words a renewing and restoring of God’s own people, not the saving of the lost; but by the same token when God’s own get right with HIM, great and mighty things will draw the lost to The Living God!). We seem to have skewed what revival truly is; we have quoted parts of 2 Chronicles 7:14 so often, yet more often than not we leave out much of the important part.  We want God to heal our land, but we don’t really want Him to change us, or draw a line against our “pet sin”!  I’d like to simply share some things for us to consider in our desire for true revival:

       Are we willing to abandon our pride?

       Are we willing to draw near to God rather than self?

       Are we willing to submit to/obey God and His Word?

              (popular or not…and it won’t be!)

       Do we see our sin as sin?

       Are we mourning over our sin/the sin of our nation?

       Are we equipped to resist the devil?

              (in other words do we know the Word of God, so that

                we can recognize the devil, his wiles and temptation?)

       Do you prefer to laugh at sin, or have a burden over it?

Peruse what James has to say to us, and may we truly hear the voice of God (via the Holy Spirit) speaking to our heart and respond accordingly.  Our life choices matter not only to us, but also to others watching to see if we live what we say we believe.

“But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

 ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter be turned to mourning,

and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:8-10

God’s message to Solomon is so important, but we often want to pick and choose the parts we want to accept, pursue, and obey.

“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…”

God heard Solomon’s request for His provision and acceptance of this house which he had built, and God told him that he would accept the Temple, but He also told Solomon that He would still judge sin, and if He chose to discipline His people there was a remedy.  Oh, that America would realize that we have abandoned God Almighty and His Son, Jesus, by our choices, our behavior, and our negligence of His Word and prayer, and then wonder why we are reaping the present “perilous times”.  May we heed the remedy that God gave to Solomon—all of it. (See 2 Tim. 3:1-5)

“…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.

15 Now mine eyes shall be open,

and mine ears attent

unto the prayer that is made

in this place.”  2 Chronicles 7:12-15

Jesus gave us the most important parameters of prayer, that so many miss today; knowing that our place is “in Jesus” not a building!

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:9-10

Jesus instructs us to be focused on God’s will, God’s kingdom—hence we need to study God’s Word as Paul instructs as as well.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

Why study God’s Word?  It is our plumbline of truth, for sure, not the world!

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable   for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”   2 Timothy 3:16-17

Boiled down, Paul is saying God’s Word IS God’s Word; it is profitable for—what we know to be truth—reproving (revealing to us) us when we err—correcting us back to the right—and teaching us how to avoid temptation.  The result is, we will be able to behave with spiritual maturity, equipped unto “all good works” which (as Paul says in Eph. 2:8-10) “God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Do we have a heart for the spiritual things of God, or have we binged on the junk food of the world so much, that we have no appetite for God?  Have we dulled our appetites for God’s things inadvertently, or by neglect?  As Jesus mentions in Matthew chapter 7, are we choosing the “straight gate” or the “broad way”?  It’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test.  As for revival, I think scripture teaches us that unless we are willing to see ourselves as we really are, humbling ourselves before God, and seeking the change that only His Holy Spirit can achieve, it’s not near.  As James teaches us, being a successful child of God takes some effort—in fact a lot of effort!  And while I’ve only included part of the chapter, I encourage you to spend some time in the book of James this week.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:

for when he is tried,

he shall receive the crown of life,

which the Lord hath promised

to them that love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted,

I am tempted of God:

for God cannot be tempted with evil,

neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted,

when he is drawn away of his own lust,

and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived,

it bringeth forth sin:

and sin, when it is finished,

bringeth forth death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren…

…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 in their affliction,

and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”                           Portions of James 1:12-27

We could call this a prescription for preparing for true revival!  Are we caring for those in need—widows and orphans—AND keeping ourselves “unspotted from the world”!  Let’s not be leopard Christians, but faithful servants of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ!  I’m praying for you and for revival.  May God hear our cry and see the earnestness of our heart.

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

Seeking For A Sign??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #206

07 Sunday Apr 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Be not conformed to this world, Commitment Or Convenience, Compromise, Father of Lies!, Father's Way!, Fickle or Faithful, JESUS, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus is our peace, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, Satan, Signs of the times?

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Seeking For A Sign???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #206

We live in a culture, even much of our Christian culture, that seems to be fixated on signs!  Not the signs that we are called to observe (the signs of the times that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 23-25, as well as other places) but seeking proof of God’s presence, His work, and often just to prove a point—Jesus makes it clear that there are “signs of the times”, but He also makes it clear that “seeking signs” is a different thing!  I just want us to consider what Jesus says, in deference to what men may say.

As Jesus spoke to the religious leaders, He didn’t mince words—He never does!  And I don’t think He’s mincing words as He speaks to us today if we’re willing to hear Him!

“The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came,

and tempting

desired him

that he would shew them a sign

from heaven.

2 He answered and said unto them,

When it is evening, ye say,

It will be fair weather:

for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning,

It will be foul weather to day:

for the sky is red and lowring.

O ye hypocrites,

ye can discern the face of the sky;

but can ye not

discern the signs of the times?

4 A wicked and adulterous generation

seeketh after a sign;

and there shall no sign be given unto it,

but the sign of the prophet Jonas.

And he left them, and departed.”  Matthew 16:1-4

Jesus talks about this again in Matthew even with a bit more information; He tells us what the “sign of the prophet Jonas” was referring to; for they were demanding that He prove Himself with “a sign” just for them.  What are you asking God to prove to you?  How shall we find the purposes of God?  In Jesus, and by abiding in Him, not looking inside of ourselves as many are promoting these days; our culture, including many Christians, who are turning to pantheistic self-improvement from within ourselves!  I challenge you to find self-improvement in scripture; God’s Word is replete with reminders that “all have sinned” and only Jesus can, will and does provide salvation to those who believe in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—a transforming power.  Paul says it better than I can, we must be transformed by the work of Jesus’ saving power and grace, not self-improvement, or the world’s message to look inside of yourself.  Oh, my friends, only Jesus can change hearts and lives by the blood that He shed for you and me; and three days in the grave from which He arose victorious over sin, death, and hell!  Don’t be like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day and reject the only true salvation.  You cannot do it yourself!

“For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

12:1 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 11:36-12:1-3

So, back to the words of Jesus, that we may hear truth from Him who IS truth—The Only Way to God—Jesus!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

On to Jesus’ truth about signs!

“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.

38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying,

Master, we would see a sign from thee.

39 But he answered and said unto them,

An evil and adulterous generation

seeketh after a sign;

and there shall no sign be given to it,

but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights

in the whale’s belly;

so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights

in the heart of the earth.

41 The men of Nineveh

shall rise in judgment with this generation,

and shall condemn it:

because they repented at the preaching of Jonas;

and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

42 The queen of the south

shall rise up in the judgment with this generation,

and shall condemn it:

for she came from the uttermost parts of the

earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon;

and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”            Matthew 12:34-42

And my friends, we must examine the things that we allow into our lives to see whether they be of God or of the world.  As Hebrews chapter 11 puts it so concisely, we must come to God by faith, and then live by faith.  Are we walking by faith or filling our lives with the faulty solutions of the world; we must look unto Jesus “the author and finisher of our faith”!

“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”. 2 Corinthians 5:7

“Now faith is

the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen…

…. 6 But without faith

it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them that diligently seek him.”  Hebrews 11:1 & 6

In closing, remember to measure things by God’s yardstick and not the world’s.  Satan, the great deceiver is a master of deception and deceit; don’t fall for his lies.

“For such are false apostles,

deceitful workers,

transforming themselves

into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel;

for Satan himself

is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing

if his ministers

also be transformed

as the ministers of righteousness;

whose end shall be

according to their works.”   2 Corinthians 11:13-15

Be sure you’re lining up with Jesus and not His enemy; for you can’t ride the fence and not be in danger of falling off on the wrong side.

“No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other;

or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  Matthew 6:24

“Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth

and came from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech?

even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father

 ye will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

 ye believe me not.”  John 8:42-45

I pray that we will all hear the “truth” speaker, Jesus, and align our lives with His Word and His ways—not fall for the lies of the enemy of our souls.  I pray that this will be received in the love with which I write it!

Amen and Amen!!!