05/08/26 RELATIONSHIP, NOT INTELLECT

05/08/26 RELATIONSHIP, NOT INTELLECT

Just as God does not "remember" the sins of those who have turned from sin and follow Him, neither does He "remember" those who turn from faith and walk in disobedience.

05/08/26 PASSION IS NORMALCY

05/08/26 PASSIONATE IS NORMAL

Have you ever had a passion for a sport, a hobby, music, travel, or business?

It is not unusual for a person who has a passion, who is driven, who obsesses, who is single-minded about a particular issue to "live, eat, drink, sleep, dream" about their passion.

This is the way it should be for the born-again believer in Christ. This used to be the norm for a new Christian. It was like the overflowing love a young man had for his one true love, or the love a young woman had for the man of her dreams.

As I said, this is the normal viewpoint of a new believer in Christ. A song says,
Jesus, Jesus
Jesus in the morning,
Jesus in the noon time.
Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus when the sun goes down.

Other verses say,
Trust Him, trust Him in the morning...
or
Love Him, Love him, in the morning...
or
Serve Him, Serve Him, in the morning...

Individual believers will never know Jesus fully until this is the dominating theme of their lives
The individual family will never know Jesus fully until this is the dominating theme of their home.
The local church will never know Jesus fully until this is the theme of their church.

If this is not your driving force, then you need to spend time alone with God.

Jesus needs to be first, last and all in between.
Jesus needs to be our all in all.
Jesus needs to be our breath, our heart beat, our meat and drink, our everything, 24/7.

We have busy lives and we have full schedules, but everything must come behind Christ in our thinking, our desires, our commitments, our life.

05/07/26 SALVATION THAT WORKS

05/07/26 SALVATION THAT WORKS

Why settle for a "salvation" that doesn't work?

Ephesians 2:8-10 (be sure to read verse ten, since it is usually ignored).
8 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.

05/07/26 (NOT MY OPINION, IT IS A FACT)

05/07/26 (NOT MY OPINION, IT IS A FACT)

It would be wonderful if "Christians" who have been misled to believe that they must continue to sin, that God does not save them from sinning in this present evil world, and that they must struggle with the sinful nature until they die physically, (it would be wonderful if they) would trust Christ for the deliverance and purification provided by the shed blood, the physical resurrection, the infilling of the Holy Spirit, and the truth of God's word. God has provided everything necessary for our full salvation, but He requires our faith.

Failure to attain, or obtain actual salvation from sin (performed or inherited) is not God's fault; it is the choice of everyone who hears the truth, but chooses not to believe in the atoning, transforming salvation of Christ.

If your church or pastor is not leading you into heart purity and overcoming faith, then you need to escape that sinning religion and find the truth that sets you free, because without faith it is impossible to please God, and without holiness of heart and life no man shall see the Lord.

Reading the word of God shows us that salvation from sin in this present evil world is not only possible, but it is the proof of our salvation. Don't settle for a different gospel, a different Jesus, and a different Holy Spirit. Don't follow blind leaders into the darkness of disbelief and disobedience.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (7:1)
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 7:1
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

05/05/26 FOUR, NOT FIVE

05/05/26 FOUR, NOT FIVE

There are four essential ministry gifts in the Church.

Ephesians 4:11-12
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Two of these (Apostle and Prophet) were fully manifested in the Apostolic Period, but they continue into the Church today, with certain limitations. In other words, no one, since the Apostles and Prophets of the New Testament has had the same anointing, gifting and authority.

There are men who are "sent" by God with spiritual gifts to preach, teach, and plant churches, and therefore manifest those two gifts in a limited way. God has not gifted anyone since the first century to add to His inerrant, infallible, God-breathed revelation.

The other two gifts (not three) are Evangelist and Pastor/Teacher, and these two gifts (ministries) are still active today.

There are many people who claim these offices, but many are not Divinely called, chosen, or qualified.

There is a great lack of "Pastor/Teacher" ministry in the Church at large, and the local church in particular, which is a major reason for the lack of mature, strong, trained soldiers of the cross.

In some cases, the person with the gift of Evangelism may be a traveling preacher, but that is not the primary way we should understand this wonderful gift. Every Christian should be winning souls to Christ, but God equips some believers in local churches specifically to be soul winners.

05/04/26 BASIC GUIDELINES

05/04/26 BASIC GUIDELINES

Be not deceived.

Be Biblical.

Be careful.

Be faithful.

05/02/26 PRIORITIZED LOVE

05/02/26 PRIORITIZED LOVE

Jesus asked, "Do you love me more than these?"

It is appropriate to apply this question to ourselves. We can understand "these" to mean family, friends, material wealth, political ideology, culture, race, position, accomplishments, affiliations (social, academic, national, financial, vocational, professional, athletic, artistry, military).

We should not love or treasure anything contrary to the nature of God, the life of Christ, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, or the morality, ethics, and dignity of God's revealed word.

It is one thing to have "a favorite, in a given category, but it is not Christian to allow any attachment to anything or anyone at any time to diminish our love, loyalty to God, and our full confidence in Divine authority.

When someone loves anything more than they love God, then they will close their minds and harden their hearts against the leading of God and His transforming power.

Don't take this lightly. The devil deceives folks into thinking that they are not resisting or rejecting Divine authority in their lives.