Category Archives: Trusting God

Is Your Truth True??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #447

02 Saturday May 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, Abundant Life In Jesus, All Sufficient God!, All things that pertain to life and godliness, Almost But Lost, The Cross or the world?, The Gospel, The Light of The Word IS Jesus, The Word, Though HE slay me--still will I trust HIM, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True, Words Matter, Worldliness

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Is Your Truth True???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #447

 

“Thomas saith unto him,

Lord, we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth, and

the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:5-6

Thomas asked how to get to the place which Jesus declared that He was preparing.  Jesus answered with the most concise and enlightening declaration of truth in practically all of scripture.  I want to call each of us to examine what we are choosing to claim as truth.  We hear so much on every hand that truth is left up to each person’s creation!  That is just not true.  Jesus wrestled with the lack of understanding with the very people that God had chosen for His own; yet they had come up with their own version of truth—the main reason that they failed to recognize their Messiah, and that Jesus was that One and only “Way” to The Father, salvation and heaven!  What have you chosen, in fact what are you choosing this very day—in reality what you are choosing each and every day!  Jesus made even more declarations about truth.

“I have many things to say and to judge of you:

but he that sent me is true;

and I speak to the world those things

which I have heard of him.

27 They understood not

that he spake to them of the Father.

28 Then said Jesus unto them,

When ye have lifted up the Son of man,

then shall ye know that I am he,

and that I do nothing of myself;

but as my Father hath taught me,

I speak these things.

29 And he that sent me

is with me:

the Father hath not left me alone;

for I do always

those things that please him.

30 As he spake these words,

many believed on him.

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews

which believed on him,

If ye continue in my word,

then are ye my disciples indeed;

32 And ye shall know the truth,

and the truth

shall make you free.”   John 8:26-32

Jesus proclaimed Himself to be of The One who “sent” Him, and that He did all that pleased the Father.  Oh how replete with truth the Gospel of John is!  Jesus told the Pharisee Nicodemus the truth of the love of God—Jesus IS the love of God and His truth!  And before we look at that great passage in John 3, let’s look at some clear revelations of what God expects of us and Jesus (as The Son of God) as well.)

“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.”  John 8:42

Jesus came from God!  He is God!  And His Word IS truth!

“In the beginning

was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning

with God.

3 All things were made by him;

and without him

was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life;

and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness;

and the darkness comprehended it not.”  John 1:1-5

And Jesus proclamation of truth in John 3, He came to be lifted up—to die—that we might live by His sacrifice!

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”  John 3:14-19

Jesus IS God—the same God that was “In the beginning…” of Genesis 1!  The creator, the redeemer and savior of all who will come to Him in repentance of sin, and faith and trust in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin!  Jesus also made it clear that when we are born again into Him, we are to share the love that we have received from HIM!  And while it’s kind of popular today to talk about “love like Jesus”, I don’t see much love that is born again to the same kind of love that Jesus expressed—truth, even when it was not received; courage, doing what God has called us to, regardless of the response of the world; grace without perversion (especially perversion of God’s Word to accommodate the world around us—making Christianity palatable is totally not biblical…); holiness—letting the righteousness of God shine through us as Paul calls us to.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us

the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Is the righteousness and holiness of Jesus seen in you—or are you claiming the name of Jesus without ever receiving His holiness and righteousness as Paul describes above? Have you been made a new creature in Christ, or have you just tagged His name onto your lifestyle, goals and worldliness?  Jesus spoke truth to the crowds in Israel, and it still stands fast today; not a popular message but truth!!!  And Jesus IS truth.  What truth are you counting on?  Jesus and His Word, or your own version of truth—a supposed truth that makes whatever is popular ok—as it is said, “If it feels good, just do it.”  Let’s measure that against what Jesus actually said. (A lengthy passage but a necessary one.)

“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.

Do men gather grapes of thorns,

or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree

bringeth forth good fruit;

but a corrupt tree

bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth

not forth good fruit is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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.”  Matthew 7:13-23

What will Jesus say to you, enter in? Or depart from me? It’s your call but choose wisely there is a test! Jesus knows those who are His!

“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!!!

Trusting To Sight Alone??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #445

25 Saturday Apr 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, The Lord Is My Shepherd, The Love of God, This is the Way, Though HE slay me--still will I trust HIM, Though your sins be as scarlet-they shall be white as snow., Trials, Tried by FIRE!, True Knowledge, Trust, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Truth is True, Try yourselves, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word, Unexpected Interruptions

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Trusting To Sight Alone???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #445

There’s an old adage that said, “I’ll have to see it to believe it!”  While we’ve probably all said it at one time or another, it is 180 degrees opposite of biblical faith and God’s Word!  I am amazed at all that goes on in our so-called Christian culture with little to no regard for what God has clearly said in His Word.  I simply want to encourage us to consider what it really means to trust God in our daily walk, and I’ll start with one of my favorite passages.  I want us to simply walk through what the scripture actually gives us as a guide for living—not just life, but the living of it—for The Lord; are we ready to heed His Word?

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise

in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.

 8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.

9 Honour the LORD

with thy substance,

and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled

with plenty,

and thy presses shall burst out

with new wine.

11 My son,

despise not

the chastening of the LORD;

neither be weary

of his correction:” Proverbs 3:5-11

I find it interesting that many of us know verses 5-6 by heart, but we have often left that which follows untouched!  Do you see what God is telling us?  Yes, we are to trust GOD—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—with all our heart; and then God goes on to tell us that we are to “lean not” to our own understanding, abilities, strengths, intuitions, human reasoning, and the justifications of our culture claiming that wrong is right and vice-versa!  Isaiah warned us long ago of the danger of heeding wrong advice!  Isaiah warned of the very thing that we are watching take place in our culture.  Our job is to stand fast in “evil day”; and friends we are there!

“Woe unto them

 that call evil good,

and good evil;

that put darkness for light,

and light for darkness;

that put bitter for sweet,

and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them

that are wise

in their own eyes,

and prudent

in their own sight!”  Isaiah 5:20-21

James warned a group of early believers that our lives ought to reflect God’s nature, the redeemed life, a sanctified life of virtue, character and holiness. Somewhere down the line we have chosen an “easy believism” that neglects repentance, regeneration and a changed life.  We are to keep our eyes on Jesus, The prize, and not the culture around us, no matter whom we fear might be ‘hurt’ by our proclamation of the Truth—Jesus!  Remember, the very proclamation of the truth of Who He was, is and ever shall be, cost Him His life, which He laid down willingly for my sin and yours!  What price are you and I unwilling to pay to proclaim God’s truth?  Let’s consider what James had to say, and I know this is a lengthy passage, but one which I pray will call us to account before our God and our Lord Jesus!

“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

As I am often wont to say, “Saying so doesn’t make it so?”  What does my/your life style say? Our speech?  Our treatment of others?  Our generosity, or the lack thereof?  Paul gives us a very clear picture of living a life of faithful obedience or a life devoted to the world. (And just FYI, James isn’t saying that our tongue can’t be tamed; he is saying that no “man” can tame the tongue—only a redeemed heart can affect a man’s speech).  Jesus said it not me.

“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:” Matthew 15:17-19

Let us also consider today (I hope to address this again soon), Paul’s great picture of the contrast between the fleshly life and a holy life—lived in the power of Jesus through the work of His Holy Spirit. It’s your call, but judge wisely according to God’s Word not the world’s standard!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary the one to the other:

 so that ye cannot do

the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,  

which are these;

Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,

lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry,

witchcraft, hatred, variance,

emulations,

wrath, strife, seditions,

 heresies, 21 Envyings, murders,

drunkenness, revellings, and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit

the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”Galatians 5:16-25

I know that these are heavy things, but they are things that I truly believe we need to be reminded of.  As some of you know, I lost my husband 2 months ago and wound up in the hospital and rehab for a month shortly after his death.  It was a trying time, but my confidence was, has been and still is in the power, goodness and sovereign care of my Jesus!  No, it hasn’t been fun, nor has it been easy, but as Job said so long ago, “…though He slay me, still will I trust Him…” Job 13:15. And in closing I want us to consider another statement from some who trusted God out of the fire and in it!  Where’s your trust?

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar,

we are not careful to answer thee

in this matter.

17 If it be so,

our God whom we serve

is able to deliver us

from the burning fiery furnace,

and he will deliver us

out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king,

that we will not serve thy gods,

nor worship the golden image

which thou hast set up.”  Daniel 3:16-18

Will you choose to stand with Jesus, or buckle under the threat of fire?  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test—and I think it may be coming very soon.  I’m praying for you.  As an old song said…” …they wouldn’t bend…they wouldn’t bow…they wouldn’t burn…” (from the song, The Fourth Man in the Fire, by Arthur Smith…), I pray that we will be found as faithful as they were, for they knew their God and His Word!  How about you and me?  I pray that God will find me faithful!

Amen and Amen!!!

What’s In The Mirror??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #434

14 Wednesday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, God's Wisdom, Godliness will be opposed, Godly Character, Good Stewards, Have you not seen?, He Died That We Could Live, Only One Way, Open The Door to JESUS, Opposition, Opposition to Godliness, Order my steps, Perseverance, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True, Turn to God's Word, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer, Victory IN Jesus!, Wait upon the Lord, Walking by Faith or Sight?, Walking With Jesus

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What’s In The Mirror??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #434

“But who may abide the day of his coming?

and who shall stand when he appeareth?

for he is like a refiner’s fire,

and like fullers’ soap:

3 And he shall sit

as a refiner

and purifier

of silver:

and he shall purify the sons of Levi,

and purge

them as gold and silver,

that they may offer unto the LORD

an offering in righteousness.”  Malachi 3:2-3

“And I will bring the third part through the fire,

and will refine them as silver is refined,

and will try them as gold is tried:

they shall call on my name,

and I will hear them:

I will say,

It is my people:

and they shall say,

The LORD is my God.”  Zechariah 13:9

The refiner is said to have put the metal into the pot—the refining pot—and as it melted, he would skim off the dross (the impurities), and heat it again, then repeat until he could see his reflection in the melted metal.  Oh, that Jesus would see His reflection in me!  So often we/I want to be used of God, but we aren’t willing to stay in the refining pot and let God remove the impurities in my life!  Even as Jeremiah teaches us and wants us to hear what God is saying to you and me today!

“The word which came to Jeremiah

from the LORD, saying,

2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house,

and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

3 Then I went down to the potter’s house,

and, behold,

he wrought a work on the wheels.

4 And the vessel that he made of clay

was marred in the hand of the potter:

so he made it again another vessel,

as seemed good to the potter to make it.

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

6 O house of Israel,

cannot I do with you as this potter?

saith the LORD.

Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand,

so are ye in mine hand,

O house of Israel.”  Jeremiah 18:1-6

God wants to work in my life and yours if we are willing to yield ourselves to His care, His work and His design to conform us into the image of our Lord; but Jesus made it clear that the refining process is painful, and when we follow Him, we will encounter the same kinds of things that HE faced!  Are you encountering opposition?  Know that Jesus faced it also, unto death!  He went to Calvary for you and me!

“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

When we consider Paul’s words to the Roman believers it becomes quite clear that living for Jesus isn’t the snap that many try to make.  It’s not just doing things, being in the right ‘crowd’, or even doing ‘godly works’; rather it means trusting Jesus with all that He is teaching me day by day, through thick and thin, through the simple and the most difficult, when I understand and even more when I don’t!  God’s Word is true in all things; we must take the time to dig into it and study it so that we come to know our God through it!  Let’s consider a portion of Romans chapter 8, and while these are lengthy passages, I think they say what we need to hear.  I hope you will find this helpful!

“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.

3 For what the law could not do,

in that it was weak through the flesh,

God sending his own Son

in the likeness of sinful flesh,

and for sin,

condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law

might be fulfilled in us,

who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.”  Romans 8:1-4

“But if we hope for that we see not,

then do we with patience wait for it.

26 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.

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 8:25-31

God is faithful even when we don’t understand.  Joseph is one of my favorite Old Testament examples of this amazing principle.  God gave Joseph prophetic dreams, and upon sharing them in excitement over God’s revelation, his brothers hated him.  Without getting into the debate over Joseph’s attitude, I see Joseph as a young man of character, and after all of his trials, he remained faithful to God and trusted to God’s care!  After bringing his family to Egypt and burying his father, his brother’s feared that he would take revenge upon them for their actions in his youth, and they pled for his grace.  He shared one of the greatest passages on our trust in the sovereign control of God.  I love it and try to remember Joseph’s example every day.  I pray that it will speak to you today!

“And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead,

they said,

Joseph will peradventure hate us,

and will certainly requite us

all the evil which we did unto him.

16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying,

Thy father did command before he died,

saying,

17 So shall ye say unto Joseph,

Forgive, I pray thee now,

the trespass of thy brethren,

and their sin;

for they did unto thee evil:

and now, we pray thee,

forgive the trespass of the servants

of the God of thy father.

And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

18 And his brethren also went

and fell down before his face;

and they said,

Behold, we be thy servants.

19 And Joseph said unto them,

Fear not:

for am I in the place of God?

20 But as for you,

ye thought evil against me;

but God meant it unto good,

to bring to pass,

as it is this day,

to save much people alive.

21 Now therefore fear ye not:

I will nourish you,

and your little ones.

And he comforted them,

and spake kindly unto them.”  Genesis 50:15-21

What do you see in the mirror?  God’s workings and the trust that you can rest in, or are you still trying to work it out yourself?  May God speak to your heart today, and I pray that you will find the confidence to rest in God’s faithful provision—He is the great refiner, if we will but rest to His faithful provision.

Amen and Amen!!!

It’s Not Just About Spelling??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #395

11 Saturday Oct 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Come out of her, God's ways are not our ways, Godly Wisdom, It's All About The Cross, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus lives today!, Jesus Never Fails, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Unrighteous will not inherit

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It’s Not Just About Spelling???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #395

It seems to me that we are living in a time when it is all about the ‘Gospel of “me”…’; it’s not about Jesus anymore, it seems to be about the gratification of our flesh, popularity, the best show or entertainment, or even catchy phrases to grab followers!  We have even taken that which God exalted, that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father…” (See Philippians 2:5-11), and made Jesus’ name a talisman, or a lucky coin you drop in the God-slot-machine and pull the handle for your prize!  I simply say—on the contrary!  God is not a heavenly slot machine that you can manipulate, or dictate to, or order around with your out of context scriptures!  God is God and when we take scripture and twist it to meet our own desires and fleshly lusts, we have missed the truth and import of scripture.  Let’s look first of all at what Jesus said about a biblical prayer life, and our life before the world as well.

“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…”  Matthew 6:9-10

Not only do we use Jesus’ name to fulfill our own lusts and desires, but we also forget that Jesus told us that we are to pray for God’s Kingdom to come (in me!); and for God’s will to be done (in me), and in the earth—”as it is in heaven”!  And how is God’s will done in heaven?  Let’s take a look at John’s glimpse into the very throne room of God.

“And the four beasts had each of them

six wings about him;

and they were full of eyes within:

and they rest not day and night, saying,

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,

which was,

and is,

and is to come.

9 And when those beasts

give glory and honour and thanks

to him that sat on the throne,

who liveth for ever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders

fall down

before him that sat on the throne,

and worship him

that liveth for ever and ever,

and cast their crowns

before the throne, saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord,

to receive glory and

honour and

power:

for thou hast created

all things,

and for thy pleasure

they are

and were created.”  Revelation 4:8-11

Is this what your response to God looks like?  Or are we begging and pleading with God for our will to be done by Him, regardless of its nature, or its alignment with His Holy Word?  We are like spoiled children, pitching a fit to get our own way!  It seems that we are more concerned with “My will be done”, than God’s!

Jesus talks about our privilege as His sheep, to pray in His name, but that is a holy privilege not a license to sin, live our own way, or have popularity, prosperity, personal gain in whatever arena is of import to you and me!

“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.”  John 10:26-30

Jesus tells us to ask in His name, but He also gave us the caveat to that promise! It’s not for our own desires, but for the glory of God.  It makes me extremely sad to see and hear people claiming to pray “in Jesus’ name” yet the things they ask are often for selfish gain in one way or another.  Even when their mouth is saying “Praise God”, their life is saying, “Praise me!”  Let’s examine our life by what Jesus said; and note that He refers to The Holy Spirit (which would come at Pentecost) as “the Spirit of truth”; I find this of great import, for so many claim to be speaking from the “Spirit”, but their words do not align with God’s Word!  To ask “in Jesus’ name” isn’t a magic formula, but rather it is an identification with the Son Of God, who IS truth!  If your use of His name doesn’t align with His Word, then it doesn’t align with Him!  Do our words (regardless of whose name we use) glorify self or The Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

“Believest thou not that I am in the Father,

and the Father in me?

the words that I speak unto you

I speak not of myself:

but the Father that dwelleth in me,

he doeth the works.

11 Believe me that I am in the Father,

and the Father in me:

or else believe me

for the very works’ sake.

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you,

He that believeth on me,

the works that I do shall he do also;

and greater works than these shall he do;

because I go unto my Father.

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,

that will I do,

 that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name,

I will do it.

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father,

and he shall give you another Comforter,

that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth;

whom the world cannot receive,

because it seeth him not,

neither knoweth him:

but ye know him;

for he dwelleth with you,

and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless:

I will come to you.”  John 14:10-18

Do we love Jesus and “keep my commandments”? The author of Hebrews reminds us that the plumbline of all things IS The Word of God, we can choose to heed The Word or reap the consequences of wrong thinking/believing.

“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

Our accounting before God will be according to God’s Word not our own loose handling of the same; God knows, and truth will be open before Him!  Jesus also told us that our lives are to be serving Him, and that which we ask “in His name” is to be in order to bring glory to God and to increase His kingdom?  How are you using His name?  Do you love Him, or only what you think He will do for you?

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

If a man love me,

he will keep my words:

and my Father will love him,

and we will come unto him,

and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings:

and the word which ye hear is not mine,

but the Father’s which sent me.

25 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.”             John 14:23-26

Jesus had so much to say about the transition from His physical presence to the indwelling Holy Spirit for those who were His own.

“Ye are my friends,

if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants;

for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth:

but I have called you friends;

for all things that I have heard of my Father

I have made known unto you.

16 Ye have not chosen me,

but I have chosen you,

and ordained you,

that ye should go and bring forth fruit,

and that your fruit should remain:

that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father

in my name,

he may give it you.”  John 15:14-16

Did you see the connection between bearing fruit with and for Jesus and asking and receiving from The Father.  We can’t go maverick and expect Jesus’ blessing upon us, and His answers to our demands.  I think that we, much like the religious leaders of Jesus day, are wanting to please God in our flesh and get HIS blessings by our own goodness!  Let’s see what Jesus had to say about choices, behavior and truth, to us!

“Ye hypocrites,

well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8 This people draweth nigh unto me

with their mouth,

and honoureth me

with their lips;

but their heart

is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me,

teaching for doctrines

the commandments of men.”  Matthew 15:7-9

We must continue to be diligent to work and walk in God’s ways, knowing what His Word says, and diligently ordering our steps according to that Word!  So are you and I using words made of letters, claiming to speak in Jesus’ name; or is our life aligned to His Holy Word?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

“O death,

where is thy sting?

O grave,

where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death

is sin;

and the strength of sin

is the law.

57 But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain

in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:55-58

And in closing Jesus’ own words to us all, for remember, saying so, doesn’t make it so!

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

Please be sure that your prayers, your words, your life before a lost and dying world is grounded in Jesus, HIS Word, and His ways, and not just empty letters that may spell His name but not be of Him; don’t be just “saying…Lord, Lord”!

Who’s Your Builder??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #379

24 Sunday Aug 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Except The Lord build the house..., Faith or Entertainment?, Faithful God--Faithful me!, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Fighting With God's Weapons, For Such A Time As This, Giving Thanks to God!, Trust, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Trusting Jesus?, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word, Victory IN Jesus!, What does worldliness look like?, What's coming out of your heart., What's coming out of YOUR mouth?, What's The Word?, Where are you leading those following you?, Who are YOU following?, Who are you listening to?, Who will you believe and follow?, Who's following you?, Who's Listening Anyway?, Words Matter

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Who’s Your Builder???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #379

I know some of you are thinking, “I’m not building a house!”; but on the contrary, we are building every day!  We are generally building or tearing down, even when we aren’t even conscious of it.  We are building up our spouse or tearing them down!  We are building up our children or tearing them down (regardless of their age!)!  We can be building up those around us or tearing them down without even being aware of it!  But my friend, we need to be aware—words and attitudes matter!  I want to share a brief Psalm with you this evening, yet one that touches the scope of our lives—our homes, our focus, our family, our attitude toward family, and in our culture, many don’t even consider that a subject to consider.  God says differently through King Solomon.

“Except the LORD build the house,

they labour in vain that build it:

except the LORD keep the city,

the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early,

to sit up late,

to eat the bread of sorrows:

for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children

are an heritage of the LORD:

and the fruit of the womb

is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;

so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man

that hath his quiver full of them:

they shall not be ashamed,

but they shall speak with the enemies

 in the gate.”  Psalm 127:1-5

May we let God speak to our hearts through His Word and I ask Him to tune our heart to His.  May we seek to have God’s viewpoint on all these things.  Toward our spouse!  Toward our children!  Toward having children!  Toward our pursuits!  Toward what really brings happiness!  Toward power, prominence, influence and financial importance!

The main thing I want to point out, is in the first part of verse one; it says it all!  If we are trying to build our house—be it a structure of brick and mortar—be it a family—be it a future–be it a career–be it a godly home—be it a relationship with those around us, we must put God first!  We must, I repeat must, seek God and His ways first and foremost in all our ways.  Let’s consider two of my favorite passages on this subject.  I pray that you will take these simple thoughts before God and ask Him to examine your heart and mine to give us His viewpoint.

“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

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise

in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.”  Proverbs 3:5-8

Amen and Amen!!!