Category Archives: God’s Faithfulness

Lack Of Knowledge??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #471

30 Thursday Jul 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Following Jesus or the World?, God's Faithfulness, God's glory NOT mine!, God's grace is sufficient...always!, God's Judgment, God's measure isn't ours, God's ways are not our ways, God's Wisdom, Godliness will be opposed, Godly Instruction, Preach Christ and HIM crucified!, Preaching Jesus, Preaching truth about SIN, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Whose Side Are You On?, Wisdom, Wise As Serpents

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Lack Of Knowledge???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #471

“My people are destroyed

for lack of knowledge:

because thou hast rejected knowledge,

I will also reject thee,

that thou shalt be no priest to me:

seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God,

I will also forget thy children.

7 As they were increased,

so they sinned against me:

therefore will I change their glory

into shame.”  Hosea 4:6-7

We have forgotten to be a people “of the Book” and have changed our focus from teaching others the Word of God to entertainment, programs, appeasement and anything else we could think of to draw people to the church, but it seems we have drawn them to something less than the Biblical Jesus.  The same thing happened to God’s people long ago, and apparently, we have learned no more than they did. Yet we seem to think we can make a better way to reach people than that which God set forth.

“For Christ sent me not to baptize,

but to preach the gospel:

not with wisdom of words,

lest the cross of Christ

should be made of none effect.

18 For the preaching of the cross

is to them that perish foolishness;

but unto us which are saved

it is the power of God.

19 For it is written,

I will destroy the wisdom

of the wise,

and will bring to nothing

the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise?

where is the scribe?

where is the disputer of this world?

hath not God made foolish

the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God

the world by wisdom

knew not God,

it pleased God

by the foolishness of preaching

to save them that believe.”  1 Corinthians 1:17-21

God chose “the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe”!  God chose what the world calls foolishness-preaching-to save the lost who will believe and come to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, The Lord.  It’s why He came!  He didn’t come to entertain; to appease, to please the masses; in fact the masses who had followed Him around for some three years, turned against Him and less than a week after crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest…” to “crucify HIM”!  People are fickle, then and now; when will we learn that only as we follow God’s Word and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, rather than the popular plans, programs and fascinations of the world, will we see a real move of God?

I simply want to ask you to consider what God has shown us in His Word and ask you to examine the way that you are going.

“My foot hath held his steps,

his way have I kept,

and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back

from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth

more than my necessary food.”  Job 23:11-12

“The steps of a good man

are ordered by the LORD:

and he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall,

he shall not be utterly cast down:

for the LORD upholdeth him

with his hand.”  Psalm 37:23-24

And one final passage for you to consider.

“Order my steps in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.

134 Deliver me from the oppression of man:

so will I keep thy precepts.

135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant;

and teach me thy statutes.

136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes,

because they keep not thy law.”   Psalm 119:133-136

May we truly learn to be once again, a people of The Word.  Even so Lord Jesus, may it be so?

Amen and Amen!!!

Why Bother??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #469

25 Saturday Jul 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, God's Faithfulness, God's measure isn't ours, God's ways are not our ways, Godliness will be opposed, Godly Instruction, Godly Wisdom, Standing in the GAP!, Still Will I Trust HIM, Study to Show Yourself Approved Unto God, Suffering With Jesus, The Things of God, The Word, The Word Or The World?

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Why Bother???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #469

There are some things better when we have all the facts, and Bible knowledge is one of them.  But how do we get the facts and knowledge that we need to better understand God’s Word?  By inductive (with logic) study, the study of God’s Word with reason, examination and keeping scripture in context; it always calls for prayer and the leadership of the Holy Spirit as we dig into each passage; and consideration of the whole, not dissecting scripture to create our own version of what God has said, (and quick below means alive.

“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.”   Hebrews 4:12-13

God gives us a picture of the need to study in the prophesies of Isaiah, it is good to consider this message from God to the people who claimed His name, but in truth, had chosen to go their own way.

“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and

whom shall he make to understand doctrine?

them that are weaned from the milk,

and drawn from the breasts.

10 For precept must be upon precept,

precept upon precept;

line upon line,

line upon line;

here a little,

and there a little:

11 For with stammering lips and another tongue

will he speak to this people.

12 To whom he said,

This is the rest wherewith

ye may cause the weary to rest;

and this is the refreshing:

yet they would not hear.

13 But the word of the LORD was unto them

precept upon precept,

precept upon precept;

line upon line,

line upon line;

here a little,

and there a little;

that they might go,

and fall backward,

and be broken,

and snared,

and taken.

14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD,

ye scornful men,

that rule this people

which is in Jerusalem.

15 Because ye have said,

We have made a covenant with death,

and with hell are we at agreement;

when the overflowing scourge

shall pass through,

it shall not come unto us:

for we have made lies

our refuge,

and under falsehood

have we hid ourselves:” Isaiah 28:9-15

What we absolutely must consider and remember always, is that the Bible is one book—not 66—not 2 versions (Old Testament and New Testament); it is one book authored by God and given to us to take as a whole; a whole, which when taken as such, can be much clearer to understand and we will make much more accurate conclusions, and understand how the parts fit together!  Yet without taking the Bible as one book, we are very likely to misunderstand and misinterpret the parts and surely how the whole goes together.  There are those whom I have encountered through the years who have seen the Old Testament as ‘plan A’ and since it didn’t work, then God came up with the New Testament as ‘plan B’! Not so—Jesus is the subject from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21—and the salvation of man the primary subject; and when we keep this in mind, we will find ourselves with greater understanding as we read and study God’s Word that studying God’s Word is our calling!

“Study to shew thyself approved

unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings:

for they will increase

unto more ungodliness.”  2 Timothy 2:15-16

“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

Peter also calls us to scriptural integrity.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy;

whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,

as unto a light that shineth

in a dark place,

until the day dawn,

and the day star arise

in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first,

that no prophecy of the scripture

is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time

by the will of man:

but holy men of God spake

as they were moved

by the Holy Ghost.”  2 Peter 1:19-21

As we learn to study God’s Word in its entirety, and honor it in its context, we will be much more able to “withstand in the evil day”!  Jesus knew the word from cover to cover, and John reminds us that He is the living Word as well as the breath of the written Word; yet those who claimed to know God and scripture put Him to death! We need to be prepared to be confronted with the same response as others have, including our Lord.

“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.”  John 15:17-21

So, as we consider the study of God’s Word, may we keep in mind that it all goes together—and scripture will never contradict scripture.  So, just a few pointers that I pray will help you approach the scripture with new hope and insight and a readiness to handle scripture with integrity and a readiness and willingness to let scripture say what scripture says; letting good study practices lead you into truth, rather than any preconceived notions, or beliefs that you may already have!

First of all read the whole thing—the whole book that you are readying/studying, not just a few verses. Then read it again, looking for keywords (repeated things) and note the things that are said about foundational doctrines (salvation, faith, sin, repentance, Jesus’ deity, etc.).  May we each commit ourselves to that which Jesus calls us to in our faith!

So, why bother?  Because when we come to Jesus, we need to know Him through His Word that we might walk in accord with it!

“Saying,

The Son of man must suffer many things,

and be rejected

of the elders and chief priests

and scribes,

and be slain,

and be raised the third day.

23 And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life for my sake,

the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged,

if he gain the whole world,

and lose himself,

or be cast away?

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me

and of my words,

of him shall the Son of man be ashamed,

when he shall come in his own glory,

and in his Father’s,

and of the holy angels.”  Luke 9:22-26

Go study, my friends, it’s a win-win!!!  It’s well worth the cost and effort—no bother– but a great plan of God!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

God Hasn’t Changed??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #463

03 Friday Jul 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Changed Lives, Check Your Knees???, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Christ IN YOU, God Bless America, God's Faithfulness, God's measure isn't ours, God's ways are not our ways, Godliness will be opposed, Godly Character, JESUS, Jesus IN You!, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' standard?

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God Hasn’t Changed??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #463

“Jesus Christ

the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.

9 Be not carried about

with divers

and strange doctrines.

For it is a good thing that the heart be established

with grace;

not with meats,

which have not profited them

that have been occupied

therein.”  Hebrews 13:8-9

Jesus hasn’t changed (nor has The Father or The Holy Spirit) yet we seem to attempt to change His Word and His words continually!  If it’s not according to The Word, we have an issue, not God.  We are to stand on the unchangeableness of Father, Son and Holy Spirit; but when we don’t know what God has said (in His Word), we will have a really difficult time ordering our steps in it!

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.”  Psalm 119:133

We need to heed the connection between the first part of this verse and the second part; there is an irrefutable connection between our devotion to the truths of God’s Word and our ability to not yield to the dominion of sin!  What are you devoted to?  God’s Word or the dominion of the world; and without The Word of God we have little defense to resist the “wiles of the devil” (See Ephesians 6:10-19)!  We need to understand that no matter what the world says, the rules haven’t changed!  God’s Word stands ever true and faithful; we must understand that, or we will be floundering all the time.

James has an amazing message about how important our devotion to God and His Word is.

“From whence come wars and fightings

among you?

come they not hence,

even of your lusts

that war in your members?

2 Ye lust,

and have not:

ye kill,

and desire to have,

and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it

upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not

that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore

will be a friend of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?”  James 4:1-5

And if we go back to things that James said earlier, we will see that it is more than “saying so”!  It’s about a real life-changing faith that lives Jesus before the world around us.

“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.”  James 1:22-27

God is ever at work to conform us into the image of Jesus; the problem is that we have our own plans. Just remember God hasn’t changed and neither has His Word; as James said above, we will be blessed in our “deed” not our claims; or if you will, a genuine, born-again believer, not just imitation!!! (See Matthew 7:15-23)

“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.

30 Moreover

whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?”  Romans 8:28-31

Not every word is true—there are those who speak God’s truth and then there are always those who claim to but lie!  Choose wisely, there is a test; and always remember when you belong to Jesus, “If God be for us, who can be against us”!  Jesus makes it quite plain that there is truth and there is a “liar”, Satan, for Jesus said, “he is a liar, and the father of it”! Consider Jesus’ conversation with the religious leaders of His day!

“They answered and said unto him,

Abraham is our father.

Jesus saith unto them,

If ye were Abraham’s children,

ye would do the works of Abraham.

40 But now ye seek to kill me,

a man that hath told you the truth,

which I have heard of God:

this did not Abraham.

41 Ye do the deeds of your father.

Then said they to him,

We be not born of fornication;

we have one Father,

even God.

42 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 8:39-45

What’s changing in your world?  Remember—

“Jesus Christ the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”!!!

Choose wisely who and what you believe; there is a test—and remember WHO IS TRUTH— “…I am the way, the truth, and the life…”  (See John 14:6)

Amen and Amen!!!

What’s In My Hand??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #449

11 Monday May 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Dare To Be Different!, God's Faithfulness, God's glory NOT mine!, God's got you and me!, God's grace is sufficient...always!, God's measure isn't ours, God's provision, God's ways are not our ways, God's Wisdom, Godliness will be opposed, Godly Instruction, Godly Wisdom, Rock-It Science, Running The Race!, Salvation

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What’s In My Hand???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #449

I’ve been reading about David this week, and I couldn’t help but think about myself; we all face giants, but what do we have in our hand?  We can be like David and pick up the tool that he was familiar with—a simple sling—or we can try to come up with elaborate defenses and devices to face our problems, or we can be like David, who refused the professional armor of the king and trusted to his God instead!

“And he took his staff in his hand,

and chose him five smooth stones

out of the brook,

and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had,

even in a scrip;

and his sling was in his hand:

and he drew near to the Philistine.

41 And the Philistine came on

and drew near unto David;

and the man that bare the shield

went before him.

42 And when the Philistine looked about,

and saw David,

he disdained him:

for he was but a youth, and ruddy,

and of a fair countenance.

43 And the Philistine said unto David,

Am I a dog,

that thou comest to me with staves?

And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44 And the Philistine said to David,

Come to me,

and I will give thy flesh

unto the fowls of the air,

and to the beasts of the field.

45 Then said David to the Philistine,

Thou comest to me

with a sword,

and with a spear,

and with a shield:

but I come to thee

in the name of the LORD of hosts,

 the God of the armies of Israel,

whom thou hast defied.

46 This day will the LORD deliver thee

into mine hand;

and I will smite thee,

and take thine head from thee;

and I will give the carcases

of the host of the Philistines this day

unto the fowls of the air,

and to the wild beasts

of the earth;

that all the earth may know

that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know

that the LORD saveth

not with sword and spear:

for the battle is the LORD’S,

and he will give you into our hands.”  1 Samuel 17:40-47

Oh that we could learn to remember that “the battle is the LORD’S”; that our Father is The totally sovereign Lord God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ who paid the debt for our sin and is working all things to the good of those who are His own, who are the blood bought, born again children of God.

“…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”.Portions of Romans 8:28-29

Will we be like David and leave the victory to The Lord!  It’s so hard sometimes to trust God in the dark, to let God conform us into “the image of his Son” by whatever means HE sees fit.  David went in faith; he used the weapon that God had taught him to use and had blessed in the past.  He didn’t trust to his own wisdom, but in the value and power “in the name of the LORD of hosts”!  He didn’t trust in the king’s armor, but in his Lord God of hosts!  What are you trying to use in your own defense—intelligence, power, position, consorts, or even using the “name of the LORD of hosts” without knowing HIM!  We must have a close and intimate relationship with God, and that only comes with the new birth, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is imparted by Jesus to everyone who comes to Him in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our personal sin!  Just claiming His name isn’t enough, we must belong to Him by being born again (See John 3:6-19)!  What stones do you have in your hand?  Rocks of offense, or stones of trust in the Savior to guide your/our every step? Jesus makes it clear that it’s our choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!  Will you accept His invitation or reject the only hope of salvation and heaven!

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

thou that killest the prophets,

and stonest them which are sent unto thee,

how often would I have gathered

thy children together,

even as a hen gathereth her chickens

under her wings,

and ye would not!

38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Matthew 23:37-38

And His invitation is still open—but it won’t always be!

“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.

21 To him that overcometh

will I grant to sit with me in my throne,

even as I also overcame,

and am set down with my Father

in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear,

let him hear what the Spirit saith…” Revelation 3:20-22

What’s in your hand?  Self?  Ambition? Greed? Popularity? Or the Gospel, for yourself and as you are born again, to share with the world God places before you?  What’s your Goliath?  Will you give it all to Jesus or go your own way?  I pray that you will join me and Job, in proclaiming our total dependence on God, even when we don’t understand—still will I trust HIM even in the pain, sorrow and uncertainty!

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.

16 He also shall be my salvation:

for an hypocrite

shall not come before him.” Job 13:15-16

And in closing Jesus’ own words; you decide!

“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

And one final word from Job—Is Jesus our rock? Our sustenance? My necessary food –the Words of life?

“Neither have I gone back

from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth

more than my necessary food.”  Job 23:12

Amen and Amen!!!

Ready??? So You Say??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #394

06 Monday Oct 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Christ IN YOU, Church:Dead Or Alive?, Clean Water?, Cleansed from all sin, Clothed In His Righteousness, Come And Worship?, Come out of her, Compromise, Confessing Sin, Conformed or Transformed?, Conformed to HIS image, Consider Your ways, God Is In Charge, God Knows His Own, God Still Reigns, God's Ability for our Inability!, God's Faithfulness, God's grace is sufficient...always!, God's Judgment, God's provision, God's Righteousness Not mine, God's ways are not our ways, God's Wisdom, Godliness will be opposed, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Just As I Am?

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Ready???  So You Say???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #394

We talked last time about the Word of God, and I want us to continue in that vein of thought but digging even deeper into our relationship to God and His Word.  Do we have a relationship with The Word?  We can’t have a real relationship with The Word until we have a relationship (not a religious experience, or a devotion to religious activity, or even followed any particular set of religious rituals, activities, rules, or even led others to join in religious activity) with The Lord Jesus Christ, by being “born again”!  We must be born again by repentance of our sin, and faith in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary!

“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

Jesus’ own words to the religious leader, Nicodemus, (a religious man), revealed that he needed the saving power of Jesus!  Are you being religious without Jesus?  Are you trying to work your way to God? To heaven?  It can’t be done; if we could work our way to heaven, Jesus came in vain.  But as Paul told us in Romans, “all have sinned”, and “the wages of sin is death”!  So even if you never sinned again from this day forward, what can you do to pay for your sins already committed? Jesus said of Himself, “I am the way……no man cometh unto the Father but by me…” (See John 14:6); so let’s see what He had to say to this man of station, prominence, and religious authority!

“There was a man of the Pharisees,

named Nicodemus,

a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night,

and said unto him,

Rabbi, we know

that thou art a teacher come from God:

for no man can do these miracles

that thou doest,

except God be with him.

3 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.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb,

and be born?

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.”  John 3:1-7

Jesus called Nicodemus to “be born again”!  Read on into verses 16-19 and see that Jesus says that without being born again we are condemned to hell already. But God offers us this new birth through Jesus Christ, the crucified, buried, resurrected and soon coming King!   What are you depending on to get you heaven?  To know God? To have eternal life?  It can’t be earned!  It can’t be worked up!  It can’t even be attained by faithful religious activity.  Jesus makes that clear in Matthew 7, advising people to understand that it’s by God’s Spirit and the new birth that we can see heaven through the Lord who would die for me and you!  You may be impressing others with your good works, but God is only impressed by the blood that Jesus shed for our salvation, and only the precious Holy Spirit can bring you into that relationship with God—Father, Son and the indwelling Holy Spirit.  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test coming!

“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

Paul makes it clear to the believers at Corinth, that we can only know God and His Word when we have the Holy Spirit to guide us, after we are born again.  But before we look at his message to the church at Corinth, let’s consider one verse from the message to the Romans believers; it’s clear truth about the presence of The Holy Spirit in God’s own. (See 2 Timothy 2:19)

“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

Let’s go on to Paul’s message to the church at Corinth.

“But as it is written,

Eye hath not seen,

nor ear heard,

neither have entered into the heart of man,

the things which God hath prepared

for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us

by his Spirit:

for the Spirit searcheth all things,

yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man,

save the spirit of man which is in him?

even so the things of God knoweth no man,

but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received,

not the spirit of the world,

but the spirit which is of God;

that we might know the things

that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak,

not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth,

but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing

spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man

receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:

for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned.”                             1 Corinthians 2:9-14

Did you get that?  God makes it clear to us that we can only understand His Word, His person, and His ways when we are indwelt by His precious Holy Spirit; and that those who are not born again, cannot understand the Bible, or God’s ways!  Not harsh, my friends, just truth. It’s all about knowing God through His Son, Jesus.  Let’s consider a few things that Jesus made clear in His ministry as well.

“Notwithstanding in this rejoice not,

that the spirits are subject unto you;

but rather rejoice,

because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20

Jesus went on to say even more about the fact that it’s our relationship with Him and not mighty works, or impressive activities.  We must get back to the basics of The Gospel!  It’s about Jesus and being born again, not appealing to people’s flesh with entertainment, services that fit people’s fancy, or try to look like the world so they’ll feel ‘at home’!  Well, not to be blunt, my friends, but they can do that without Jesus, and if we don’t tell them that, what favor are we doing.  We’re forgetting that Jesus saves—not us, or our fancy ideas.  God did it in the early days of the church and He’s the one who will do it now, if it gets done.

“And they, continuing daily

with one accord in the temple,

and breaking bread from house to house,

did eat their meat with gladness

and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God,

and having favour with all the people.

And the Lord added to the church daily

such as should be saved.”  Acts 2:46-47

They were living out a “Jesus” life before the world, not putting on a show and inviting the world in!  They were praising God in real life, letting others see Jesus in them outside; they weren’t putting on a show and inviting the outside in!  When we won’t live Jesus outside of the walls of our churches, why would people want what we have, when we’re not living Jesus on the outside.  Why will we not yield to the Spirit and let His work be displayed in us every moment of every day!  Rain or shine!  Good or difficult!  In easy things or hard!  We need to display victory over sin, death and hell by the blood of Jesus to a lost and dying world.  We’re called to be holy before God and the world.  What spews out of your mouth?  Sweet water or bitter water?  (Remember that Jesus said that “out of the heart the mouth speaks”, we may need to check our hearts—would I rather cling to my vocabulary or God’s?)  James says it better than I can.

“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.” James 3:8-13

Have you/I been born again by The Spirit of Jesus?  Is my life displaying godly knowledge, meekness and wisdom?  Or have I allowed the world to color my lifestyle, my speech, my attitudes, my lack of usefulness to our Lord.  As I often say, it’s your choice; but choose wisely there is a test coming, and it may be here sooner than we expect!  God’s in the life-changing business still.  If you hear His voice speaking, don’t turn Him away.

“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

Jesus will forgive, save and cleanse everyone who will come, and He won’t leave us in our sin—He will transform and deliver us from the clutches of the devil!  Truth may not be welcome, but it’s still truth—Jesus IS truth!

“Know ye not that the unrighteous

shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Be not deceived:

neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,

nor effeminate,

nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards,

nor revilers, nor extortioners,

shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you:

but ye are washed,

but ye are sanctified,

but ye are justified

in the name of the Lord Jesus,

and by the Spirit of our God.”  1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Are you ready to come to salvation in Jesus?  I’m praying for you!

Amen and Amen!!!