Category Archives: Uncertainty–God HAS the answer

Is God’s Word Truth??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #393

01 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, God's grace is sufficient...always!, God's Judgment, God's Righteousness Not mine, God's ways are not our ways, God's Wisdom, Godly Wisdom, The Things of God, The Word, The Word Or The World?, There IS a Test!, This is the Way, Time Is Grace!, Too Late To Call?, Transformed life, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer, Unrighteous will not inherit, Victory IN Jesus!, What are you hungry for?, What are you listening to?, What do you SEE?, What's in your book?, What's The Word?, Who are YOU following?, Who are you listening to?, Who will you believe and follow?, Who's Listening Anyway?, Whose Sheep are You?

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Is God’s Word Truth??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #393

I feel led to write this article today, as I just read some startling statistics that break my heart; but I have no doubt that they reflect where our culture is.  The bottom line was that less than 10% of those who claim to be “Christians” actually believe the Word of God/The Bible to be true, authoritative and useful for ordering our lives before a Holy God!  So, I want to share what the Word of God has to say about itself.  It’s your choice, as to what you believer, but choose wisely for there is a test; and believe it or not, God’s Word is and ever will be the plumbline!

“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

You may deny the veracity of The Word of God, but your denial will not diminish the truth that it is what you will stand and be judged by one day!  What you do with Jesus and His Word is truly your choice, but the consequences have already been set.  Paul gives us a most powerful declaration of the truth of the Bible—God’s Word!  Other’s words may be tempting to believe as they usually (almost always) feed the fleshly desires, rather than the truths of God!

“If we believe not,

yet he abideth faithful:

he cannot deny himself.

14 Of these things put them in remembrance,

charging them before the Lord

that they strive not about words to no profit,

but to the subverting of the hearers.

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:13-15

And just an observation, if we are called to “rightly” divide the word of God, it is implied that there is a way to “wrongly” divide (or interpret and apply it) God’s Word.  What are you doing with the Bible?  Are you taking other’s opinions of what it says, or are you digging in yourself to see what God says?  Whether we believe and accept it or not, God remains faithful and His Word is true; again I say, it’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test!  Let’s look at what else Paul told this young pastor!

“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

Just FYI, the word ‘perfect’ here means stable and mature, it is not a reference to attaining sinless perfection!  This is calling us to understand that it is the Bible, God’s Word, which can help us to know truth (doctrine); to reveal our failure and sin (reproof); to correct us and set our feet back on the road of the light of our God (correction); and one of the greatest things is that it helps us to learn the ways of righteousness (the preventive measures for a godly life, instruction in righteousness!)!  Then Paul lifts us up to see that this very Word of God is what will help us to be mature, useful and equipped spiritually for whatever good works God may set before us!  Oh, to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and our heart and flesh feasting on His Word.  It’s like medicine for the soul and our weak flesh.

Jesus said it best as He dealt with the temptation of Satan face to face!

“And when the tempter came to him, he said,

If thou be the Son of God,

command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said,

It is written,

Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word

that proceedeth

out of the mouth of God.”              Matthew 4:3-4

What if our diets were as set on God’s Word as on the physical food that we love –some of us way too much!  So in closing I just want to remind every one of us that there is a day coming when we will give an account—let us consider the fate of those who don’t know Jesus; yet also we need to consider that every genuine believer in Jesus will also give an account.  Are you living according to God’s Word?  How can you if you don’t know it?  You can’t!  So dig in my friend; dig in and feast on the riches of all that God has sent to us in this amazing love letter—from Genesis to Revelation!  It’s all true—whether you believe it or not!

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged

out of those things which were written

in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea

gave up the dead which were in it;

and death and hell

delivered up the dead which were in them:

and they were judged

every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever

was not found written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

No second chances!

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die,

but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27

Then consider Paul’s explanation of the believer’s accounting.

“For other foundation can no man lay

than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation

gold,

silver,

precious stones,

wood,

hay,

stubble

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed by fire;

and the fire shall try every man’s work

of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss:

but he himself shall be saved;

yet so as by fire.

16 Know ye not

that ye are the temple of God,

and that the Spirit of God

dwelleth in you?”  1 Corinthians 3:11-16

Are you ordering your steps with Jesus or the world?  It’s your choice but remember there is a test.  May we pray with the Psalmist today?  And the next today…….  And the next today…

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.”  Psalm 119:139

Amen and Amen!!!

Does My Life Match The Word? A Word from THE WORD!!! #371

03 Sunday Aug 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Faith or Entertainment?, Faithful Follower, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Knows, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, Mindset on Jesus!, Modesty, My Grace Is Sufficient, My Help Cometh from THE LORD, My sheep hear my voice..., Not Ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ., The Word, The Word Or The World?, There IS a Test!, Though HE slay me--still will I trust HIM, Though your sins be as scarlet-they shall be white as snow., Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, Trusting Jesus?, Try yourselves, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer

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Does My Life Match The Word?  A Word from THE WORD!!! #371

“Beloved,

now are we the sons of God,

and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:

but we know that,

when he shall appear,

we shall be like him;

for we shall see him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him

purifieth himself,

even as he is pure.”  1 John 3:2-3

John is joined by Peter, who also calls us unto this purity—a purity that is 180 degrees opposite of our culture which says, whatever the market will carry!  We’re told that we need to look like the world, talk like the world, dress like the world, adopt the world’s culture, copy their philosophy, and include worldly philosophy as an ‘add-on’ to Jesus.  Don’t bother with prayer and obedience to Jesus, but get on board with the new age philosophies, the attitude that says do whatever it takes to make the sale, close the deal or be popular and accepted!  Success becomes our ‘god’ rather than Jesus, God The Father or the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.

17 And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons

 judgeth according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know

that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

 received by tradition

from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

 and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God,

that raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith and hope

might be in God.

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls

in obeying the truth

 through the Spirit

unto unfeigned love of the brethren,

see that ye love one another

with a pure heart fervently:

23 Being born again,

not of corruptible seed,

but of incorruptible,

by the word of God,

which liveth and abideth

for ever.”  1 Peter 1:13-23

The question that we must answer is “are we purifying ourselves..as He is pure”; or have we bought into the lies of the enemy and aligned our lives with ‘Hellywood’ and the culture of the world, be it TV, social media, politics, the world’s fashions, or financial priorities; or are we delving into The Word of God, recognizing that we are to be set apart unto Jesus, His Word and His holiness?  Oh to be found faithful before God, to be living according to His Word and His ways rather than the world’s! (and just FYI, “conversation” in verse 15 is a reference to lifestyle not just our words.)

“There is a way which seemeth right

unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 14:12 

Jesus clearly makes this clear to us in Matthew chapter 7, but we still seem to miss it, especially in today’s culture; even within the church, if not especially in the church.  Do our hemlines and our necklines (male and female) reflect the world’s fashion or modesty.

“Likewise, ye wives,

be in subjection to your own husbands;

that, if any obey not the word,

they also may without the word

be won by the conversation of the wives;

2 While they behold your chaste conversation

coupled with fear.

3 Whose adorning let it not be

that outward adorning

of plaiting the hair,

and of wearing of gold,

or of putting on of apparel;

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart,

in that which is not corruptible,

even the ornament

of a meek and quiet spirit,

which is in the sight of God

of great price.

5 For after this manner

 in the old time

the holy women also,

who trusted in God,

adorned themselves,

being in subjection

 unto their own husbands:”                 1 Peter 3:1-5

And Paul calls us in similar fashion to live modestly before the world.

“I will therefore that men pray every where,

lifting up holy hands,

without wrath and doubting.

9 In like manner also,

that women adorn themselves in modest apparel,

with shamefacedness

and sobriety;

not with broided hair,

or gold,

or pearls,

or costly array;

10 But (which becometh women

professing godliness)

with good works.”  1 Timohty 2:8-10

And back to what Jesus reveals to us in Matthew chapter 7, one of the most significant chapters in all of scripture.

“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…

…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.” Portions of Matthew 7:13-23

Are you working iniquity with the world?  Or are you doing “the will of my Father which is in heaven”?  God knows which path you are walking on; you may fool others, but you can’t fool God!  As my mother told me more than once, “You can fool some of the people all of the time; you can fool all of the people some of the time; but you can’t fool God!”

Lord may we be found faithful before you, living, speaking, dressing, using our words in the ways that you have called holy!  Help me to reflect your glory and not that of the world, to bear fruit of The Spirit and not that of the flesh.  And in closing a bit of a lengthy passage, as Paul makes the contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of The Holy Spirit.

“16 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…

…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.”  Portions of Galatians 5:16-25

Where are you walking?  Do my choices reflect Jesus or the lies of the enemy?  Am I walking the “broad way” or the “narrow way”?  My life will reveal the road I’m on!  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

Amen and Amen!!!

Where Is Your Burden??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #354

06 Friday Jun 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Advice for the journey, but He's still there., Do You See What God Sees?, Don't believe the Lies, Don't let fear of tomorrow ruin your today, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus Wept--You can too!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Jesus-Wonderful Counselor, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer

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Where Is Your Burden???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #354

 

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD,

and he shall sustain thee:

he shall never suffer the righteous

to be moved.”  Psalm 55:22

Someone needs this word this morning—someone besides me that is!  I just wanted to remind us on this lovely Friday morning as the clouds are moving out to make way for the sunshine (at least for a little while here in Oklahoma!).  It’s been a rainy spring, and we are grateful for the rain and the cooler temps before the summer oven-like temperatures.

But the thing I want to point out is that when we think there is no hope—Jesus IS our hope!  He is faithful to His Word.  He has plans that we so often don’t see behind the clouds.  Keep your eyes on Jesus my friends, the clouds won’t be there forever, and when the SON shines, it will renew our strength, courage and by His Spirit enable us to press on and go forward.  He hasn’t moved or changed—so don’t you move away from His promises!  Yet to know His promises, we must be in His Word.  So make that a priority in your life, and don’t let circumstances distract you from the truth!  And remember Jesus IS truth—in person, in word and in the sacrifice that He made for our sin.

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth, and

the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

So, my friends, choose to make Jesus your “way…truth…life”; He will never fail—never has—still won’t!  The Apostle Peter reminds us of Jesus’ faithfulness, and we can stand in Him, on His truth, able resist the enemy of our souls!  Remember, if you have been born again, we win.  And if you haven’t been born again, you can be, by repenting of your sin, and believing in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that Jesus made for sin at Calvary!   As Jesus said on the cross, “it is finished”, for all who will come to Him!  I implore you to keep your eyes on the prize—Jesus!  In Him, we win!!!  May we each follow Peter’s advice.

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.

8 Be sober,

be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast

in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished

in your brethren that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace,

who hath called us unto his eternal glory

by Christ Jesus,

after that ye have suffered a while,

make you perfect,

stablish,

strengthen,

settle you.

11 To him be glory and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen.”  1 Peter 5:6-10

Cast your care on Jesus, fixing your eyes on The Prize!

Amen and Amen!!!

A Hindrance To Revival??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #332

24 Monday Mar 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Renewing or Reviewing, REvival, Revival or Recycle?, Revive us O God!, Speaking The Truth In Love, Tuned In, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer

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A Hindrance To Revival???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #332

“Wilt thou not revive us again:

that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD,

and grant us thy salvation.

8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak:

for he will speak peace unto his people,

and to his saints:

but let them not turn again to folly.

9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him;

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

I have prayed a long time to see a true revival in the midst of God’s people.  A heart stirring, conviction producing, altar-praying, tearful repentance of God’s own; the kind of revivals I saw and experienced as a child and a young adult.  Oh, dear Father—please revive us again!  But then I ask myself, am I being a hindrance to revival? Is my heart willing to hear that voice of conviction from the Holy Spirit; am I willing to turn from my pet sins, my selfish longings and desires, my misuse of God’s gifts?  May we simply lay ourselves before The Lord God Almighty, and our precious Lord and Savior Jesus, and yield to the work of His Spirit within me and you who belong to Him.

It’s so easy to be distracted, and I am chief of the distracted sometimes; yet I long to be all that God wants me to be; to be humble, obedient and willing to go or stay—to go forward or to wait on The Lord!  Let’s consider some truth from scripture that we might ponder, consider and willingly look into that mirror of the soul—God’s Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.  It’s so much easier to flip on the TV, scroll through hours of social media dribble, or watch every sport known to man!  What is your go to escape?  Are we trying to escape form our King?  Or have we just become so accustomed to going our own way, and being more influenced by the world than our Lord?  Oh, Jesus, revive my soul!  May we return to the time when the church led your people instead of the popular call from the world?  Have we allowed our heart to become divided?  Heal my heart oh Lord.  Help me to stop living a life of “long-division” and start living in submission to you, my Lord—adding and multiplying grace and obedience.

“But king Solomon loved many strange women, …

…2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel,

 Ye shall not go in to them,

neither shall they come in unto you:

for surely they will turn away your heart

after their gods:

Solomon clave unto these in love.

3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses,

and three hundred concubines:

and his wives turned away his heart.

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old,

that his wives turned away his heart

after other gods:

and his heart was not perfect

with the LORD his God, …

…6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD,

and went not fully after the LORD,

as did David his father.

7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh,

the abomination of Moab,

…and for Molech,

the abomination of the children of Ammon.

 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives,

which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon,

because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel,

which had appeared unto him twice,

10 And had commanded him

concerning this thing,

that he should not go after other gods:

but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.”   1 Kings 11:1-10

Solomon let his heart be compromised (divided)—this wise man—this man to whom God appeared and gave him an amazing gift of greatness; but he was drawn away from his God by worldly compromise!  What are we allowing to draw our heart away from God?  It’s usually the most innocent-seeming things that Satan will use to draw us away; sometimes the busy-ness of doing churchy things gets in the way of obeying our Lord.  Sometimes He leads us aside, when we want to be in the limelight?  Sometimes He calls on us to be quiet, when we want to speak.  Sometimes He calls us to leave our comfort-zone to go to and do the uncomfortable.  Sometimes He convicts us to give up things that we have allowed to become “foreign wives” to us—have I allowed worldly pleasures to come between me and my LORD?  Have we allowed something—anything—to divide our heart like Solomon’s?  Is Jesus on the throne of our heart or something—anything—else?

What comes out of my mouth?  What goes into my eyes?  My ears?  What do I allow that I once wouldn’t?  I’m not going to post a list—ask God and He will reveal truth, if/when we are willing to receive it.

“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

James got pretty blunt in his letter to believers who were living a life of division.  May we heed his word today—for it’s God’s Word to us as well.

“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?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

 ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

 ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep:

 let your laughter be turned to mourning,

and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:3-10

May we learn to practice humility before God, holiness by God’s grace, His Word and being devoted to our King, hungering for God’s friendship not the world’s?  I pray that we will be the conduit for true revival not the hindrance.  Let’s keep our hearts pure before God, no matter what others may think or do.

“O generation of vipers,

how can ye, being evil, speak good things?

for out of the abundance of the heart

the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man out of the evil treasure

 bringeth forth evil things.”  Matthew 12:34-35

May our hearts be right before our God!  He knows, no matter what others may think; and we can only fake it for so long, the truth will come out!  Oh, Lord please open our eyes and convict our hearts to truly “Draw nigh to God” that He “will draw nigh to you.”  Please revive us again, oh Lord?

Amen and Amen!!!

Unified Or Divided??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #326

03 Monday Mar 2025

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Know not what they do, Knowing GOD, Knowing Truth, Lead them to Jesus., Leading Or Mis-Leading?, Let You Light So Shine, The Word, Trendy Or Truth, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trust, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer, unity or division?

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Unified Or Divided???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #326

I have a few thoughts to share with you this morning; most know I don’t get political, but I think we need to consider some things that The Word has to say about our attitude, especially toward the thing called “unity”!  I think we often misunderstand unity and confuse it with uniformity; unity means a oneness but not sameness.  As a nation, and especially the followers of Jesus, we need to stop throwing rocks, pray and consider scripture—not the personal version, but the biblical truths that stand the test of time, circumstance, and the human need for God!  We seem to have thrown out the baby with the bath water (look it up if you don’t know what that means!). I simply want to share some scripture for our consideration.  So drop your rocks for a minute or two and let’s peruse a scriptural perspective—not mine but God’s!  Unity calls us to uplift one another, even in our personal differences.

Unity isn’t uniformity—it is the uplifting and building up rather than tearing down with greed and avarice!  It is doing things for the common good, without violating or exchanging God’s principles for greed—avarice—and fleshly lust (as the detective shows always say, “follow the money”!). I pray that this will give us all some food for thought, knowing that we are called to follow scripture’s advice as followers of Jesus. The context in Ephesians 4 is in regard to the giftings that Jesus (via the Holy Spirit) gives to the church in regard to leadership—as those who prove things on the “testing grounds”! And just FYI, the reference to “perfect” is referring to spiritual maturity-not sinless perfection, which only Jesus has (See Hebrews 4:15 and Hebrews 9:28,) — in contrast to being “children”. (And if you’re curious Romans 3:23 and 6:23 remind us that all are sinners except for our Lord Jesus!)

“Till we all come

in the unity of the faith,

and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

unto a perfect man,

unto the measure of the stature

of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about with every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:” Ephesians 4:15

This bears out the principle that Paul put forth to the Philippian believers, not a panacea, but a call to keep in mind that whatever Jesus leads us into, HE will provide for.

“I can do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

And the Apostle John recorded Jesus’ own words to us.

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit

he taketh away:

and every branch that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean

through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me, and I in him,

 the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”  John 15:1-5

Are you with Jesus?  Or are you spinning your wheels trying to go your own way rather than the way that is down the “straight” road? (See Matthew 7:14-21, and notice the “many” and the “few”—where are you?)  What we often fail to consider is that when we stand with Jesus’ we will receive the same response that HE often provoked in those who were walking away from God.  We are to lift up without caving to the world’s sinful direction.  While it’s a great dilemma, it’s one that “in Jesus” we can accomplish—remembering what Jesus said, “without me ye can do nothing”!

So, are you spreading unity or division?  It’s a quandary but we who belong to Jesus must stand for the truth, no matter the cost; and without throwing rocks, remembering Paul’s reminder that things are not going to get truly better, until the King of Kings arrives!  And notice that Paul said that “men shall be” not just “do”, but they will “be” evil!  We must never put unity over holiness, but at the same time we are not to spread “discord” (see Proverbs 6:19+)!

“This know also,

that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be

lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,

proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,

unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers,

false accusers, incontinent, fierce,

despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded,

 lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness,

but denying the power thereof:

from such turn away.”  2 Timothy 3:1-5

Yes, we are to be compassionate and a help to those in need, but we are not to be enablers of continual bad behavior.  We will never eliminate poverty, illness or sin—only Jesus can and will accomplish that when He returns, but until then we must be aware of the failures that we will deal with due to original sin! And we must understand that things are not always what they seem to be; Jesus made an amazing declaration to the disciples over an extravagant act toward Him!

“There came unto him a woman

having an alabaster box of very precious ointment,

and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

8 But when his disciples saw it,

they had indignation, saying,

To what purpose is this waste?

9 For this ointment

might have been sold for much,

and given to the poor.

10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them,

Why trouble ye the woman?

for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

11 For ye have the poor always with you;

but me ye have not always.

12 For in that she hath poured this ointment

on my body,

she did it for my burial.

13 Verily I say unto you,

Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached

in the whole world,

there shall also this,

that this woman hath done,

be told for a memorial of her.”  Matthew 26:7-13

Don’t miss what Jesus didn’t say, He didn’t memorialize this woman, but He did declare what she had done to and for Him would be memorialized—for her love for Him and her willingness to give probably the greatest thing that she owned to honor Jesus; and she gave it without regard to what others might say!  Are we willing to pour ourselves out for Jesus, no matter the cost or the backlash?  We don’t know her name, but we do know that her extravagant love for Jesus is still talked about today.  What are we willing to give to Jesus, no matter what others may say?  I don’t have any “precious ointment”—but I do have me and whatever Jesus has given me to use—even those things that sometimes I’m clinging too tightly to!  How about you?

And as we think about serving others, we need to keep the proper perspective, and I’ll close with one of the greatest “misses” in trying to supposedly “serve God” one’s own way.  And while this is a lengthy passage, I believe it is worthy of our consideration; and please don’t miss what God’s Word says about rebellion (disobedience).  What blessings have we missed because we did it “my way” rather than God’s.  Let’s determine to be those who help bring unity, but never at the price of disobedience. (And remember that being a leader has a great call of responsibility— “to whom much is given, much is required…” See Luke 12:48.)=

“And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him,

Blessed be thou of the LORD:

I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

14 And Samuel said,

What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep

in mine ears,

and the lowing of the oxen

which I hear?

15 And Saul said,

They have brought them from the Amalekites:

for the people spared the best

of the sheep and of the oxen,

to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God;

and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

16 Then Samuel said unto Saul,

Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said

to me this night.

 And he said unto him, Say on.

17 And Samuel said,

When thou wast little in thine own sight,

wast thou not made the head

of the tribes of Israel,

and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey,

and said,

Go and utterly destroy

the sinners the Amalekites,

and fight against them

until they be consumed.

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey

the voice of the LORD,

but didst fly upon the spoil,

and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

20 And Saul said unto Samuel,

Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD,

and have gone the way which the LORD sent me,

and have brought Agag the king of Amalek,

and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the people

took of the spoil,

sheep and oxen,

the chief of the things

which should have been utterly destroyed,

to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God

in Gilgal.

22 And Samuel said,

Hath the LORD as great delight

in burnt offerings

and sacrifices,

as in obeying the voice of the LORD?

Behold, to obey

is better than sacrifice,

and to hearken

than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion

is as the sin of witchcraft,

and stubbornness

is as iniquity and idolatry.

Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD,

he hath also rejected thee from being king.”  1 Samuel 15:13-23

May we be busy speaking God’s truth in love; may we pursue unity without leaving God’s Word and holiness behind.  May we see sin as sin, and help others see truth with love and kindness but not compromise.  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!

Amen and Amen!!!