Category Archives: Follow Jesus

Changing Truth??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #264

25 Wednesday Sep 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Come to Jesus, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Grace, Jesus Is Truth, The Blood of Jesus Cleanses from SIN, The Broad or Narrow Way?, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True

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 Changing Truth???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #264

 

I would like to spend some time this morning considering what God says about truth; and like it or not our world is steadily changing what they consider truth.  As one who follows Jesus and The Word of God, I believe that God’s truth is truth, and we must remember that the enemy of our soul is the great liar—Jesus said so!  As the old folks used to say, Jesus told the leaders “how the cow ate the cabbage”!

“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

We have been called to “speak the truth in love”, but when it is not received, we cannot force people to believe only call them to the Savior Jesus!  Jesus never changes, and He never chased after anyone to follow Him.  We must all choose, but remember we are to be fishers of men and sowers of the seed—the cleaning and harvesting is in God’s hands!  Truth never changes!

“Jesus Christ the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

This same Jesus made it clear that the choice belongs to each person, and that we who follow Him will never be in the majority in this world!

“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.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits…”.  Matthew 7:13-16a

Notice the difference between the “strait” and the “broad” roads, and between the “many” and the “few”; it is one of the most significant things in understanding truth and realizing that not everyone wants truth!  Or Jesus!  And believe it or not, scripture tells us what the standard is—Jesus, the living Word, and the breath of the written Word!

“For the word of God is

quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in his sight:

but all things

are naked and opened unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.

14 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 4:12-16

I give testimony that Jesus has never failed, and I know He never will.  I’ve walked with Him for some 50 years; and no I didn’t always get it right, but when I failed it was usually because I was going my way and not His.  So, I praise God for not only His truth, but for his forgiveness, mercy and grace that can always be found at that “throne of grace”!  Don’t forget that God is always on call!  He neither slumbers nor sleeps (See Psalm 121:4)!

So as we go from day to day in this lost and dying world remember that there is truth, and it will stand!  We must choose what kind of nation we desire to see and stand fast for truth.  It’s of urgent importance.

“Righteousness exalteth a nation:

but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34.

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!!!

Sometimes It Ain’t Easy??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #220

15 Wednesday May 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abiding In The Vine, Advice for the journey, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Footprints, For Such A Time As This, Holiness, Holy, Holy Living, Holy Spirit, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows, Longsuffering, Look up and Praise The Lord, Love, Love Is Action, Never Alone, Purity, Salvation

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Sometimes It Ain’t Easy??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #220

This title kind of says it all, and I want us to consider the truth that we often times try to hedge or compromise; but Jesus calls us to a higher plane.  He calls us to love others as He has, does and ever will love us.  Sounds easy—but it “ain’t”!

“Ye have heard that it hath been said,

Thou shalt love thy neighbour,

and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you,

Love your enemies,

bless them that curse you,

do good to them that hate you,

and pray for them which despitefully use you,

and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children

of your Father which is in heaven:

for he maketh his sun to rise

on the evil

and on the good,

and sendeth rain

on the just

and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you,

what reward have ye?

do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only,

what do ye more than others?

do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect,

even as your Father which is in heaven

is perfect.”  Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus has not only called us to walk a path of hardship but to do it with HIS love in our hearts, and that, my friends can only be accomplished because He has given His precious Holy Spirit to those who are born again.  It’s His Spirit that He promised will bring us into all truth, equip us and fit us for HIS service as well as His kingdom.  Paul talks about this to the Colossian believers.

“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

Also as the Apostle John recorded for us:

“He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them

that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:11-13

Even as Jesus told Nicodemus, the religious leader who was seeking the truth, and Jesus introduced him to truth—The Son of God Himself.

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God…

…5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

 is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth,

and thou hearest the sound thereof,

but canst not tell whence it cometh,

and whither it goeth:

so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”  John 3:3-8

Have you been born of The Spirit of God?  Without the Spirit we can do nothing, and we can’t even belong to God without the new birth which the conviction of the Holy Spirit brings us to and works into us.  As born-again believers we are to go where The Spirit leads, directs and prepares us for! All by “abiding” in Jesus!

“Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

 except ye abide in me.

5 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 15:4-5

The Holy Spirit indwelling us, is the evidence that we belong to Jesus, and it should show in all we think, and say, and do.  Our behavior will reveal what’s inside!  Which Spirit is within you?  The Holy Spirit of Jesus or the spirit of the world?

“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 8:9

As Jesus said:

“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

Paul also makes it as clear as glass for us in his message to the Roman believers; it is our great standing ground of truth.  Will you stand upon it, or will you go your own way and miss the joy, peace and salvation that Jesus died to provide for all who will come to Him in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin?  While this is a lengthy passage, it is too valuable to cut short here (and I would encourage you to read the entire 5th chapter –in fact chapters 5-8 are amazing.)

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

 through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith

into this grace wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope

of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

 knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God is shed abroad

in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more, being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received

the atonement.” Romans 5:1-11

So, while the commands to love the unlovely aren’t an easy thing, as the title says, “Sometimes It Ain’t Easy”, yet it is doable in Jesus, when we walk in the Spirit not the flesh (See Galatians 5:16 & 25), and that my friends is the catch, if you want to call it that; we must keep in mind that we “can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me”!  (See Philippians 4:13.) I also want to remind you that there is a payday—and while it may not be today, it is coming!  So press on my friends and depend on Jesus through the power of His Holy Spirit to keep on loving like Jesus—not compromise but “speaking the truth in love” we are to press on.  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

“Blessed are they

which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye,

when men shall revile you,

 and persecute you,

and shall say all manner of evil

against you falsely,

for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:

for great is your reward in heaven:

for so persecuted they the prophets

which were before you.”  Matthew 5:10-12

Remember:

“For it is written,

As I live, saith the Lord,

every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.

12 So then every one of us shall give account

of himself to God.”  Romans 14:11-12

Amen and Amen!!!

What Works Are You Working?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #214

28 Sunday Apr 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Advice for the journey, All Sufficient God!, Almost But Lost, Are you ready for Jesus' return?, Armor of God, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Wait upon the Lord, Walk in the Spirit, Walking by Faith or Sight?, Walking With Jesus, Walking Worthy, Wasting Time, Well Done Thou good and faithful servant!, What are you listening to?, What do you SEE?, Where your treasure is--Your heart is!, Who are YOU following?, Who are you listening too!, Who will you believe and follow?, will you?, Work

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What Works Are You Working?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #214

“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man

which was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying,

Master,

who did sin,

this man,

or his parents,

that he was born blind?

3 Jesus answered,

Neither hath this man sinned,

nor his parents:

but that the works of God

should be made manifest in him.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me,

while it is day:

the night cometh,

when no man can work.

5 As long as I am in the world,

I am the light of the world.”  John 9:1-5

As I watch the scenes that fill the news each day, my heart is grieved at the darkness around us, and it is getting darker with each passing day.  It reminds me that the “evil day” that Paul mentions in the Ephesians 6 passage regarding the armor of God, is upon us; sadly it’s going to get darker.  Jesus made it clear to His followers that sin wasn’t and isn’t the cause of all calamities; that God is totally in charge and that while some things are the result of original sin, they aren’t necessarily the direct result of personal sin.  God is at work in and around us and while we don’t always understand what is going on, we can absolutely know that God is sovereignly in charge—always!

With that said, Jesus gives us the standard, “I must work the works of him that sent me”!  And when we are following Jesus, we are accomplishing the works of our Father who sent Him to us.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give in exchange

for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

The way to do the Father’s work is to follow Jesus, and be born again, by the power of God, and then yield to His Word, His ways, and the truths that Jesus made clear to us.  Jesus is saying above that if we choose to attempt to “save” ourselves, we will lose! Yet when we give our life to Him, He will help us walk the narrow way, rather than hear “depart from me” in “that day”.

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them

that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:10-13

“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.”  Matthew 7:21-23

The question is, are we doing the work of Jesus or our own thing?  The distinctions are very visible if we will but open our eyes!

“I charge thee therefore before God,

and the Lord Jesus Christ,

who shall judge the quick and the dead

at his appearing

 and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word;

be instant in season,

out of season;

reprove, rebuke, exhort

with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come

when they will not endure sound doctrine;

but after their own lusts

shall they heap to themselves teachers,

having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears

from the truth,

and shall be turned unto fables.

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 Timothy 4:1-8

In case you haven’t noticed, we also are in a time when people are not wanting to hear the word, much less obey it.  So, my friends will we “work the works of him that” saved us, called us, and has commissioned us to do HIS works.  It’s your choice, but remember, there is a test.

“And, behold,

I come quickly;

and my reward is with me,

to give every man

according as his work shall be.”  Revelation 22:12

Amen and Amen!!!