Category Archives: Turn to God’s Word

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

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!!!

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

26 Friday Sep 2025

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

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

“At that time Jesus answered and said,

I thank thee, O Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

because thou hast hid these things

from the wise and prudent,

and hast revealed them

unto babes.

26 Even so, Father:

for so it seemed good in thy sight.

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father:

and no man knoweth the Son,

but the Father;

neither knoweth any man the Father,

save the Son,

and he to whomsoever the Son

will reveal him.

28 Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

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

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

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

“These things I command you,

that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him that sent me.

22 If I had not come and spoken unto them,

they had not had sin:

but now they have no cloke for their sin.

23 He that hateth me

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

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

“Many therefore of his disciples,

when they had heard this, said,

This is an hard saying;

who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself

that his disciples murmured at it,

he said unto them,

Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man

ascend up where he was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth;

the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you,

they are spirit,

and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not.

For Jesus knew from the beginning

who they were that believed not,

and who should betray him.

65 And he said,

Therefore said I unto you,

that no man can come unto me,

except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time

many of his disciples went back,

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

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

“Jesus answered them,

I told you,

 and ye believed not:

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

they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not,

because ye are not of my sheep,

as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

 29 My Father, which gave them me,

 is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

31 Then the Jews took up stones again

to stone him.”   John 10:25-31

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

Amen and Amen!!!

God’s Way Or What??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #381

01 Monday Sep 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, God Who Sees, God's Call, God's measure isn't ours, God's ways are not our ways, Good News, Gospel, Grace, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Preach Christ and HIM crucified!, Preaching Jesus, Preaching truth about SIN, Ready or NOT Here Jesus Comes!, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Redemption or Rehearsal?, Redemption Through HIS Blood, The Gospel, The greatest gift!!!, The Heart is deceitful and dreadfully wicked..., Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True, Turn to God's Word, Unrighteous will not inherit, Victory IN Jesus!, Walking by Faith or Sight?, Walking With Jesus, What are you listening to?, Who are YOU following?, Who are you listening to?, Who will you believe and follow?, Whose Sheep are You?, Wolves in sheep's clothing!, You can't get yesterday back!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

God’s Way Or What??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #381

I would like to share a few thoughts with you today, and some of them may not be well-received, for they may fly in the face of what some if not many in our day pursue and purport to be truth.  I think God makes it clear that Jesus is, was and ever shall be the plumbline.

“Jesus Christ

the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

I love the Gospel of John as it reveals Jesus throughout as the “I Am”; even the religious leaders bristled at this claim, and on several occasions when Jesus spoke clearly that HE was the “I AM” they wanted to stone Him!  Note that Jesus didn’t claim to be the “I might be”, the “I was” or even the “I will be”!  John starts his gospel with the great “In the beginning” passage which clearly declares that Jesus was, is and ever shall be God!  Jesus even said it of Himself (a claim which many say He didn’t make, but He absolutely did!)!

“Then came the Jews round about him,

and said unto him,

How long dost thou make us to doubt?

If thou be the Christ,

tell us plainly.

25 Jesus answered them,

I told you,

and ye believed not:

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

they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not,

because ye are not of my sheep,

as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

31 Then the Jews took up stones again

to stone him.”  John 10”24-31. (notice the “again”)

Jesus is God, the God-man-redeemer; the Savior of all who will come to Him in repentance of their sin, and trust in/believing in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice which pays for sin!  And sin, my friends, is the issue.  The angel told Joseph that very thing when he told him that Mary was indeed pregnant with the Messiah!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done,

that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken of the Lord

by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name

Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is,

God with us.”             Matthew 1:21-23

Oh, thank you Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that you had already provided the salvation we needed, before our father Adam sinned! That is also in The Word of God!

“Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings

in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us

in him

before the foundation of the world,

that we should be holy

and without blame

before him in love:” Ephesians 1:3-4

Even in His priestly prayer for us, Jesus reminds us of His eternal deity before creation!

“Father,

I will that they also,

whom thou hast given me,

be with me where I am;

that they may behold my glory,

which thou hast given me:

for thou lovedst me

before the foundation of the world.”   John 17:24

Peter also made this clear in his first letter to scattered believers.

“Forasmuch as ye know

that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God,

that raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith and hope

might be in God.”                 1 Peter 1:18-21

So, why, you might ask, am I belaboring this point?  I’ll answer that question!  The gospel hasn’t changed, but we are living in a culture that is marginalizing Jesus and His gospel of “the blood of The Lamb” that is necessary for the forgiveness of sin!  Sin has been removed from most preaching, as well as the cross and that “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”, for it is offensive to many and has been removed from many (if not most) churches today.  In its place is a message of just “love like Jesus loved”—and, yes, Jesus “so loved the world” that He died for our sin, but unless we recognize our sin as sin and are ready and willing to turn from our sin to the cleansing, saving and transforming power of Jesus Christ the crucified, buried and risen Lord, we may have religion, but we have missed salvation by a mile!  Jesus Himself calls us to repentance which leads to saving faith.

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:3                                 (and He repeats it in verse 5)

Paul makes it clear that if we fail to preach sin, repentance and faith in Jesus alone for salvation, we are perverting the gospel.  I’ll let Paul speak for himself; he says it better than I can.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

 to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed

from faith to faith:

as it is written,

The just shall live by faith.”  Romans 1:16-17

The book of Acts clearly declares that it’s all about sin and Jesus’ blood shed for our sin, and only Jesus can and will save.

“Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him

doth this man stand here before you whole.

11 This is the stone

which was set at nought of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12

Paul’s clear message is trustworthy, what have you done with it?

“For all have sinned, and come short

of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely

by his grace

through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth

to be a propitiation

through faith in his blood,

to declare his righteousness

for the remission of sins that are past,

through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say,

at this time his righteousness:

that he might be just,

and the justifier of him

which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26

“For when ye were the servants of sin,

ye were free from righteousness.

 21 What fruit had ye then in those things

whereof ye are now ashamed?

for the end of those things is death.

22 But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:20-23

So, my friends what have you don’t with Jesus?  Are you reveling in your sin, confident that you play the church game, but you’ve never been washed in Jesus’ blood to forgive your sin and cleanse your heart and make you new.  That’s the message of the Gospel of Jesus!  It’s not saying some prayer, or getting dunked, or even walking an aisle to shake someone’s hand.  It’s hearing the voice of Jesus’ Spirit speaking to your heart and showing you your sin—not anyone else’s—and being willing and ready to bow before Jesus and ask Him to forgive your sin and save and heal your soul and impart to you the new birth (read John 3)!

I’ll simply close with Paul’s declaration of God’s choice of preaching!  Preaching!  Not games, or entertainment or smooth words—but the preaching of The Gospel of Jesus’ salvation through His blood!  I pray that you’ll meet Him at the cross and find Him sufficient to save!  Don’t put off till tomorrow that which may not be offered again!

“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.

22 For the Jews require a sign,

and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified,

unto the Jews a stumblingblock,

and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called,

both Jews and Greeks,

Christ the power of God,

and the wisdom of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:17-24

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

Amen and Amen!!!

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

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!!!