Tag Archives: 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Where’s The IF??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #390

24 Wednesday Sep 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Brighten Your Corner!, Broken Hearts, Jesus lives today!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus prayed, Jesus Saves!, Renewing or Reviewing, Repentance, Responding Rightly, Responding to God's call to share the Good news., Responding to the call!, Resting Or Wrestling?, Restoration

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Where’s The IF??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #390

I have seen a lot of things going around on social media and people referring to 2 Chronicles 7:14, but not quoting it, just making a loose paraphrase of it, and then asking people to pray “this prayer”, yet in seeming to be scripture they ask God to “banish what isn’t of Him”!  Excuse me!  There is a day coming when God will certainly banish all that isn’t of Him, but that is the judgment—not now.  Now God has truly called us to be salt and light, not to cling to our own pet sins (mine are ok, yours are not-mentality).  But that isn’t what God says!  So I will simply let scripture say what scripture says in context; you be the judge.

“And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night,

and said unto him,

I have heard thy prayer,

and have chosen this place to myself

for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain,

or if I command the locusts to devour the land,

or if I send pestilence among my people;

14 If my people,

which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:12-14

This was God’s message to Solomon at the dedication of the first temple, and God let Solomon know that the people would go into sin, and when they did, HE would discipline them; yet God told Solomon that the turnaround was up to them!  And when we read the scripture, we see that again and again the people sinned grossly—just like us!  So God told Solomon there was a cure, but it came with a great big IF! God’s people—not the world—must be ready to repent!

The IF that most don’t want to talk about!  But clearly God calls us, those called by His name, the people of GOD Almighty, for those called by the name of HIS SON, Jesus Christ The Lord—Christians!  And may I add that just saying so, doesn’t make it so. As Jesus himself said, “ye must be born again”! And if we are of the “born again” congregation, God is calling us also to fall on our faces and,

“shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways “!

And I must say, with all the hoopla going around about revival, I think God is waiting for us to humble ourselves before Him, pray in earnest, seeking HIS face, and being willing to turn from our “wicked ways”!  Where are the tears of conviction?  Where are the hearts broken over sin?  Where are the fires of holy living igniting?  I’m longing to see it—especially in me—but also in those who claim the name of my Lord Jesus!  As I wrote last time, as James said, “sweet water and salt water don’t’ flow out of the same fountain”!  May we truly seek God’s face to revive ‘ME’! And you!  And all of His own!  As Paul said, I cling to the cross, I pray that you will meet me there in earnest desire for God to move among His own—and God knows those who are His!

“For I determined not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ, and him crucified…

…5 That your faith should not stand

in the wisdom of men,

but in the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:2 & 5

And just so you’ll know what the Gospel is, I’ll simply close with Paul’s great “gospel in a nut shell” passage.  Please look up and not around!

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel

which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Oh, precious Jesus, touch our hearts, speak your truth to us that we may live for you according to your Word.  May we truly come to you in repentance (anew for those of us who are already saved) and faith in your substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin!  Thank you for hearing our prayer!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

Amen and Amen!!!

Faith In Spite Of Sight??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #227

03 Monday Jun 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abraham's Test, Are you ready?, Faith, Faith or Entertainment?, Faithful, Faithful Follower, Faithful God--Faithful me!, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, God's Righteousness Not mine, God's Wisdom, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Seeing Truth, Serving God or Using God?, Sin IS the issue, Speaking The Truth In Love, Still Will I Trust HIM, The Word

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Faith In Spite Of Sight??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #227

“Now faith is

the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand

that the worlds were framed by the word of God,

so that things which are seen

were not made of things which do appear…

….6 But without faith

it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder of them

 that diligently seek him.”  Hebrews 11:1-3, 6

We hear lots of talk about faith today—in this or that, even the faith regarding Jesus.  But what is your faith really in?  A myth?  A story? A legend? People? Promises?  The significant thing we must remember is that it is absolutely important what we believe about Jesus.  Many believe he was a good man, or even a good teacher or prophet, but Jesus claimed to be The Son of God—to be God (See John 10:30)!  Paul says that salvation only comes when we believe the Gospel and tells us exactly what that is!

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you

the gospel which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory

what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed

in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Jesus also reminded us that we can only come to Him when we are willing to repent of our own sin and trust in His blood to save us; as Paul says, His death, burial and resurrection “for our sin”!

“I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish…

….5 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:3, 5

So the question comes, what do you believe or what have you placed your faith in?  Money, power, influence, family, politics, fame…the list could go on, but the question remains.  Have you trusted in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice to pay for your sin?  If you have, are you also trusting to God’s faithful provision even when you can’t see the way?  I want to share a simple story with you this morning, and I ask that you ponder the amazing truth of it.

“By faith Abraham,

when he was called to go out into a place

which he should after receive for an inheritance,

obeyed;

and he went out,

not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise,

as in a strange country,

dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob,

the heirs with him

of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city

which hath foundations,

whose builder and maker is God…

….13 These all died in faith,

not having received the promises,

but having seen them afar off,

and were persuaded of them,

and embraced them,

and confessed that they were strangers

and pilgrims on the earth…

…17 By faith Abraham,

when he was tried,

offered up Isaac:

and he that had received the promises

offered up his only begotten son,

18 Of whom it was said,

That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 Accounting that God was able

to raise him up,

even from the dead;

from whence also he received him

in a figure.”  Portions of Hebrews 11:8-19

Abraham believed God’s promises which He gave Him for a seed, a land and a nation when he was childless at 75 years of age!  That was a promise which Abraham clung to even when God asked him to offer Isaac on the altar.  This was faith over sight! And when you study this encounter, you will find that God took Abraham and Isaac to Mount Moriah (the place where Jesus was offered) and Abraham’s answer to Isaac’s question, “where is the sacrifice”, was, I believe, from a faith-vs-sight beyond his own wisdom as we see in Genesis 22; and I truly believe God let Abraham see that HE would provide “Himself” as The Lamb in His time.  Check it out.  John the Baptizer understood: “Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world…”. Have you looked to Jesus, The Lamb to take away your sin?  Are you looking with eyes of faith or being swayed by worldly distractions.

“And he believed in the LORD;

and he counted it to him for righteousness.

7 And he said unto him,

I am the LORD that brought thee out

of Ur of the Chaldees,

to give thee this land

to inherit it.”  Genesis 15:6-7

Don’t let the world distract your faith by leading your eyes in a different direction—for it will never lead you closer to your Lord. Jesus gave His all for me and you, what will we give for/to Him?

“I am the good shepherd,

and know my sheep,

and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me,

even so know I the Father:

and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have,

which are not of this fold:

them also I must bring,

and they shall hear my voice;

and there shall be one fold,

and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me,

because I lay down my life,

that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me,

but I lay it down of myself.

I have power to lay it down,

and I have power to take it again.

This commandment

have I received of my Father.”  John 10:14-18

He died for sin—but rose the victor over it!!

Amen and Amen!!!

Only Jesus Can Save??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #218

09 Thursday May 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Be ye HOLY, Come to Jesus, Commitment Or Convenience, Faith, JESUS, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Salvation, Saved by grace, Saved by Grace Through Faith, Saved FROM Sin, Sharing Our Faith!, Sharing What God Has Given

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Only Jesus Can Save??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #218

Only one life, twill soon be past

Only what’s done for Christ, will last!

This is the refrain from a hymn written by C.T. Studd, a British missionary who served with Hudson Taylor.  I’ll post the entirety at the end of this message, and I pray that it will encourage and challenge you today.  For that is the subject I want to share with you today—it’s all about Jesus; Jesus our Lord who gave His all for you and me, and yet so many who claim His name have no time to spend with Him, no time for serving Him in His church, no time to share the Gospel with others, for we’re often so unfamiliar with God’s Word that we’re not sure what “The Gospel” is, so that’s our subject today!  May this help you to stand!

“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

Only One name, only One way:

“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

John’s gospel is replete with the truths of the saving grace of Jesus alone, and we must be born of God not of ourselves.  We can never clean up our act, so to speak, enough to be able to stand before God; it doesn’t matter how much money, or power, or fame, or status you have before the world, only Jesus can bring you into a relationship with God, by the power and  conviction of sin that His precious Holy Spirit brings—and if you never see your sin, you’ll never see your need for Jesus.  You’ll still have the need, but you won’t see it.

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them

that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:10-13

Have you experienced the new birth?  Have you come unto Jesus saving grace, bought, and paid for at Calvary?  Jesus told a religious man named Nicodemus that no matter how religious he was, that wasn’t how you get to God.  Yes, we are to be holy and righteous in our living when Jesus saves us, but our good works are the product of our salvation not the producer of it!  We do good works because Jesus forgives, saves, transforms us by the power of His blood.

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10

And Jesus own words:

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see

the kingdom of God…

…. 5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into

the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again…

….14 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.”  Portions of John 3:3-19

“I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

 ye shall all likewise perish…

… 5 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:3 & 5

Will you choose life or perish?  Paul’s great “gospel in a nutshell” passage, makes it clear what it is that we are to believe as we repent of our sin—it’s all about Jesus, and only Jesus!

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel

which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Have you heard the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart about your sin?  I heard that dreaded voice of conviction years ago, and while it wasn’t what I wanted to hear, it was truth and when I fell on my face in repentance of my hard heart of sin, Jesus touched me, and I got up a new person—not perfect but redeemed and He has never left me through all my trials, failures, and mistakes!  He is the God who saves, redeems, forgives, and cleanses us from sin.  Trust Him today if you don’t know Him; and if you do already know Him, won’t you decide to live for HIM today?

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:7-10

It’s a heart issue; what’s in your heart, Jesus, or the enemy of your soul?

“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

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

Amen and Amen!!!

Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past
by C.T. Studd

 Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,                                                           And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its days I must fulfill.
living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,                                                              And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

__ extra stanza __

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.

Amen and Amen!!!

Without A Preacher??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #149

30 Monday Oct 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All About Jesus!, Gospel, Heaven or Hell?, Jesus Is Coming Again., Power of The Cross, Preach Christ and HIM crucified!, Preaching Jesus, Preaching truth about SIN, The foolishness of preaching

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Without A Preacher???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #149

There is a lot going on these days that purports to be spreading the Gospel, but I find a lot of it not only deficient, but near if not total heresy!  So let’s see what God’s Word has to say to us today, and heed it, live it and share it!  Let’s begin with Paul’s ‘Gospel in a nutshell’.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel

which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory

what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Take note that Paul not only shared the truth of Jesus being our only way of salvation succinctly, but he also made it very clear that the cause of the need for salvation is SIN; an issue that so many today don’t want to talk about.  They want to talk about prosperity, a good life, peace, joy, and love (and Jesus will bring you peace, joy, and love, but not without repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for SIN!) yet more often than not leave out the subject of sin—and if I have no sin, I have no need of a Savior!  Jesus Himself said that He came to call ‘sinners’ to repentance (See Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:32) for those who ‘think’ they are righteous have no need of a Savior.  I wish we had time to go through the first three chapters of Romans, where Paul leads us to see the three types of sinners, and just to simplify it for today, he starts by his bold declaration of his confidence of the Gospel, then on in chapter 1 to describe the openly, willful sinners; then in chapter 2 he confronts the “SELF-righteous” sinners; before going on to boldly proclaim the state of us all as the “NONE-righteous”!  But to keep it comfortable for people, we have compromised this message of and need for us to see our sin before we will ever come to the JESUS! We have conveniently neglected the message of “all have sinned” and call people to just ‘say this prayer’, ‘walk this aisle’, demand that God save you because you ‘called the name of Jesus’.

“So, as much as in me is,

I am ready to preach the gospel

to you that are at Rome also.

16 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 1:15-17

Paul was confident of his preaching, for preaching was God’s chosen method to get the word out—not programs, props, or entertainment (not that there is anything wrong with those things in and of themselves, but they cannot take the place of ‘Preaching’ the Gospel)!

“Where is the wise?

where is the scribe?

where is the disputer of this world?

hath not God made foolish

the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God

the world by wisdom knew not God,

it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching

to save them that believe.”  1 Corinthians 1:20-21

And one of my favorite passages:

“For whosoever shall call

upon the name of the Lord

shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call

on him in whom they have not believed?

and how shall they believe

in him of whom they have not heard?

and how shall they hear

without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach,

except they be sent?

as it is written,

How beautiful are the feet of them

that preach the gospel of peace,

and bring glad tidings

of good things!”  Romans 10:13-15

It’s God’s WORD, and not only was Paul unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus, but he was confident in its power, and the clear truth that it is ALL about JESUS—HIS sacrifice for sin—and the need for salvation.  But if we never see our sin, if we never preach about sin, who will see the value of Jesus’ sacrifice?  NO ONE!  The other thing that we seem to have forgotten is that the convicting power of The Holy Spirit is essential to the genuine conversion of lost souls—Jesus words make it clear.

“No man can come to me,

except the Father

which hath sent me

draw him:

and I will raise him up at the last day.”  John 6:44

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:10-13

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

Jesus is THE WAY—THE only way, and without HIS sacrifice for my/your sin there is no hope.  Who wants to go to heaven anyway, when you have no desire for God in this world, no desire for HIS ways, no pleasure in HIS Word, no time for HIS work or to hear the preaching of truth?

“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.

13 Now when they saw the boldness

of Peter and John,

and perceived that they were

unlearned and ignorant men,

they marvelled;

and they took knowledge of them,

that they had been with Jesus.”  Acts 4:10-13

Did you get what the opposition said about the disciples, “they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus”?  What do people notice about you and me?  Do they see that we have “been with Jesus” or do they see a reflection of the world instead of the ONE whom we claim as our LORD and Savior?  I believe that will be one of the greatest indictments of this generation when we stand before our God—and yes real believers will give an account of our actions (not for heaven or hell, but for rewards or lack thereof), our stewardship and our service to The King, and our integrity toward HIS WORD!  Those who have not believed and received Jesus’ salvation will also give an account but not for destiny, they will have already chosen hell—sad, but true!  What Gospel are you preaching with your life as well as your words.  Paul gives us some amazing tidbits of truth to measure our testimony by!

“For I determined not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified.”  1 Corinthians 2:2

“But God forbid that I should glory,

save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom the world is crucified unto me,

and I unto the world.”  Galatians 6:14

“For the preaching of the cross

is to them that perish foolishness;

but unto us which are saved

it is the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:18

“For we preach not ourselves,

but Christ Jesus the Lord;

and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

6 For God,

who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,

hath shined in our hearts,

to give the light of the knowledge

of the glory of God

in the face of Jesus Christ.”   2 Corinthians 4:5-6

So what Gospel are you/I preaching?  Living?  Sharing by our life, conversation, choices, activities?  Jesus is coming my dear friends, and HE knows all things and will reward every man accordingly—heaven or hell!  It’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test!  (See Revelation 20:11-15). Have you been born again?  Is your name written in The Lamb’s Book of Life?   Jesus is the only way, it’s why He came– that we might have life—but HE will never force Himself on anyone, including YOU!

“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 3:16-19

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.”   2 Corinthians 5:17

May the truth of Jesus prevail in our lives!  Preach it, brother, preach it!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

Lies People Believe??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #135

24 Sunday Sep 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Behold the Lamb of God, Believe God?, Believe IN Jesus, God Knows, God's Faithfulness, God's Judgment, God's love, God's measure isn't ours, God's ways are not our ways, God's Wisdom, Lies That Defeat Us, Life or Death?, Satan, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trust God, Trusting God

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 Lies People Believe???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #135

As I look around me, it seems that on every hand people are drowning in the lies of the enemy of our souls—Satan the great deceiver.  Who said so?  God’s Word says so, and if we don’t acquaint ourselves with what God has said in His Word, we are likely to fall for those lies ourselves.  Our young people have no hope, they don’t know who or what they are because the world is lying to them, and even professing Christians seem to be falling for and failing to recognize those very lies!  God’s Word isn’t outdated, or false, or unreliable—it is the VERY WORD OF GOD, and without it we have no hope at all—but God’s Word is true in every “jot and tittle” as Jesus said!  Whom will you believe?

“And the great dragon was cast out,

that old serpent,

called the Devil,

and Satan,

which deceiveth the whole world:

he was cast out into the earth,

and his angels were cast out with him.”  Revelation 12:9

There is a day coming when God will cast Satan and his angels down to the earth—an awful day of judgment for them, as well as for the inhabitants of earth.  I won’t get into the debate of the time of this event, but I will put it simply, they were cast out of any heavenly access.

“And there was war in heaven:

Michael and his angels

fought against the dragon;

and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not;

neither was their place found any more

in heaven.”  Revelation 12:7-8

The account described here, in my opinion, can’t have taken place before the ‘beginning’ and there is scriptural evidence that we will consider, simply for clarity.  If this event preceded the things that are recorded in scripture, then there would be no record of Satan encountering God in His heaven, but there are several places in scripture where this is referred to, and I want us to just let scripture say what scripture says (and I would encourage you to read Job 1 & 2 for the whole picture.).  In this particular context, the “sons of God” refers to angelic beings, not men!

“Now there was a day when the sons of God

came to present themselves before the LORD,

and Satan came also among them.

7 And the LORD said unto Satan,

Whence comest thou?

Then Satan answered the LORD, and said,

From going to and fro in the earth,

and from walking up and down in it.

8 And the LORD said unto Satan,

Hast thou considered my servant Job,

that there is none like him in the earth,

a perfect and an upright man,

one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said,

Doth Job fear God for nought?”  Job 1:6-9

And chapter 2 of Job reiterates Satan’s presence before God, and keep in mind this is after his encounter of chapter 1.

“Again there was a day when the sons of God

came to present themselves before the LORD,

and Satan came also among them

to present himself before the LORD.

2 And the LORD said unto Satan,

From whence comest thou?

And Satan answered the LORD, and said,

From going to and fro in the earth,

and from walking up and down in it.

3 And the LORD said unto Satan,

Hast thou considered my servant Job,

that there is none like him in the earth,

a perfect and an upright man,

one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

and still he holdeth fast his integrity,

although thou movedst me against him,

to destroy him without cause.

4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said,

Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath

will he give for his life.

5 But put forth thine hand now,

and touch his bone and his flesh,

and he will curse thee to thy face.”  Job 2:1-5

Those of us who are familiar with scripture know that God brought Job through a bevy of troubles, with a few so-called friends who accused Job of every failure under the sun, yet Job maintained his integrity before God; and in the end God honored Job’s faith in Him and restored him completely.  The enemy was a liar then and he’s a liar now, he accused Job causelessly, for he is the enemy of God’s own, and he is still the ENEMY!  How did Jesus, our Lord respond to him? (See Job 13:15)

“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.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city,

and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him,

If thou be the Son of God,

cast thyself down:

for it is written,

He shall give his angels charge

concerning thee:

and in their hands

they shall bear thee up,

lest at any time thou dash thy foot

against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him,

It is written again,

Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain,

and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world,

and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him,

All these things will I give thee,

if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him,

Get thee hence, Satan:

for it is written,

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,

and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him,

and, behold,

angels came and ministered unto him.”  Matthew 4:3-11

If you’ll notice Jesus didn’t debate with the enemy—and we don’t have to either; Jesus answered the enemy’s attacks, temptations, and slanders with only one thing: The Word of GOD!!!  That is our best defense against the “wiles of the devil”.  The Word of God and the Armor of God are our greatest resources, but we must open The Word to avail ourselves of them!

Oh, how my heart aches for the lies that have broken families, sent our young people into the throes of suicide, sexual perversion, confusion, and rejection of God’s design for male and female, marriage, and the home!  Sadly many of our young people are taking these wrong roads following parents who have fallen for the same lies.  When will we realize the cost of abandoning God’s Word, God’s Ways, and God’s standard!  And even sadder still is the fact that even the church has, in many cases, abandoned the Word of The Savior and Lord whom they claim to follow.  If we truly belong to Jesus, we are called to “take up his (your own) cross daily and follow me”!  It’s the way to victory in Jesus—the only way!  As I’ve often said, “say’n so doesn’t make it so”!  James addresses this issue with great wisdom and truth—will we take heed?

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not

the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart

all filthiness

and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion is vain.” James 1:19-26

“What doth it profit, my brethren,

though a man say he hath faith,

and have not works?

can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked,

and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them,

Depart in peace,

be ye warmed and filled;

notwithstanding ye give them not

those things which are needful

to the body;

what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith,

if it hath not works,

is dead,

being alone…

…26 For as the body without the spirit

is dead,

so faith without works

is dead also.” James 2:14-17 & 26

And I’ll close with Paul’s comments on vain faith and what the Gospel is in truth and power:  Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and risen again for our sin!

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel

which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you

first of all that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Have you been to the cross for YOUR sin?  I met Jesus there some 40+ years ago, when HE came to me in my own living room and said as plain as if He spoke into me ear rather than my heart, when He said, “YOU aren’t mine!”!  I argued with Jesus most of the day before a friend came and pretty much said little just listened to me come face-to-face with my own SIN and call on Jesus to save me and transform me!  I was made a new creation, and while I didn’t get it all right in the beginning, HE has grown me into what I am today—not all I ought to be, but better than I was, and HE’s still working on me!  Oh, the glory that God showers down on we who come to HIM in repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice!  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  I’m so glad I believed Jesus’ assessment of my heart rather than the enemy’s who kept convincing me that I did ‘church’ really well, and that was enough!  It ain’t!  Only Jesus’ blood can cleanse us from sin, and only when we see our sin and turn to HIM in repentance and faith!!!  How about you?

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:5-10

Whom will you believe?  Will you come to Jesus’ cross?  He’s waiting for you to see your own sin and come to HIS cross in repentance and faith!  He’s waiting for you, but don’t wait too long, He may return today!  Don’t be one day too late!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

He who is “the way, the truth, and the life” loves you and died for your sin and mine.  Trust to HIS truth and save your soul today!  Don’t fall for the lies of Satan!  (see John 8:44)

Amen and Amen!!!