04/28/23 DON'T CHOOSE SIN

04/28/23 DON'T CHOOSE SIN

I have the "key" that sets folks free,
Still they scorn the light and refuse to see.

Matthew 16:19
19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

John 3:19-21 (NKJV)
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

04/27/23 BE A TEAMPLAYER

04/27/23 BE A TEAMPLAYER

Not everyone on a team is a teammate, not every teammate is a team player, whether in sports, business, warfare, or a local body of believers.

Self pride, self assertion and self promotion robs a team of victories.

04/27/23 (Sportaphor alert)

04/27/23 (Sportaphor alert)

Strength, speed, quick response, toughness, courage, endurance can look like mayhem, but teamwork turns it into Rugby.

(insert "Churchmanship" for "Rugby")

04/25/23 BE A PART, NOT APART

04/25/23 BE A PART, NOT APART

BE PART OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD, DON'T BE A STRANGER
The view from my study, office, work-out room. My "net house" is a great place for family and friends to get together for feasting, fun and faith gatherings (fellowship, praise, study, singing, encouragement, building up and equipping for spiritual service).
I hope you, your family and friends are part of a local body of believers, being built into a holy temple of God. 

Ephesians 2:17-22
17 And He (Jesus Christ) came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.
18 For through Him (God the Son) we both have access by one Spirit (God the Holy Spirit) to (God) the Father.
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

(comments from photos in this post)
#1
I not only meet with our folks in-person here in Williston, but also online. I also will meet with folks in their homes to set up Bible studies for them, their families and friends (sometimes in home and sometimes with an internet connection). Special studies are also offered in both formats.
#2
I use my out building (Net House) to lead praise, and the study of God's word. This includes in-person gatherings and online outreach for local folks and friends at a distance (domestic and foreign).
#3
As you will see in the following photos, we sing together, feast together, fellowship and have fun together.
#4
I use the large monitor to share visual helps and to include our live-stream people to interact with the in-person group.
#5
At present we have seven households in our local fellowship. Numbers are only important because numbers represent people, and we care about people. Singles and families are very important to us.
#6
We have eight young people at the present time (two of them are not in this photo). Our saved young people are not only going to be the church sometime in the future, they are the church now.
#7
We gather for special occasions, such as birthdays and holidays.
#8
It is essential for young people to be committed to Christ and to be involved with other young people who love the Lord.
#9
Celebrations are important, but sometimes folks just play games or converse or play music.
#10
Parents and children should be enjoying and participating in the same worship, study of God's word, and fellowship with God and His people.
#11
Each part of the body has interests they share with others, as well as participate corporately with the other parts of the body.
#12
We are starting a Monthly Men's Fellowship (in-person and online) as well as a Weekly Men's Ministry Study (also in-person and online). We have 5 local men (as well as 4 local teen males), along with 2 online men. Our Men's Ministry Study should start May 5 and include men form at least one other online Church group.
#13
And, as some of you have seen in some of my videos, I use the Net House as an indoor walking track for my health. I need to walk, but I don't need the pollen, so I walk inside the building. I often listen to music and discussion videos and sometimes make my own teaching videos while walking. You can see me at the far end of The Net House. At present I am doing 3-4 miles (at 3 mph) a day. I also do weights and machine exercises at home.

04/25/23 LEARN FROM YOUR LESSONS

04/25/23 LEARN FROM YOUR LESSONS

I went to Bible college as a very shallow believer, since I never had Christian upbringing, and I only remember having a Bible believing pastor for a couple of years in my lifetime. I had a lot to learn. God had always been good to me, even when I would backslide from time to time, and I never forgot His faithfulness or call on my life. Some of my learning during Bible college years was taught and some of it was caught.

Being eager to learn and grow I paid attention to my ministry studies and I paid attention to God's personal leading. The first (or second) winter, when snow and ice were on the ground, I slipped on the steps, going down into the dining hall, injuring my ankle. In fact, I thought for a moment that I had broken my foot again. Immediately I gave praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. I was not asking for healing. I was just thankful for His watchful care, even though I may have broken my foot. After all, it could have been much worse.

As I attempted to stand up, I realized my foot stopped hurting. I was still cautious, but I proceeded into the building. Within moments I was walking normally, with no pain. God confirmed a great lesson to me that day. I was aware that God protects and heals and I was aware that I should give Him praise in all things, but this was such an obvious manifestation that I could not ignore it.

However, I learned a greater truth than the fact that God heals. I learned that giving Him praise is always in order, regardless of circumstances. I did not come away from that experience expecting God to keep me from all difficulties or injuries, and I did not come away from that experience expecting God to instantaneously heal me of every problem or sickness I may have. I came away with the joy of knowing God was with me and would be with me even when my circumstances were not good.

You may say, it was only a twisted ankle or at the worst a broken bone, so what is the big deal? I agree, it was not a world shaking event, but I learned from it the importance of giving thanks to God, sincerely and immediately; not for the deliverance that God can give but for the assurance that He is with me at all times, even when the evidence seems to indicate otherwise.

I have noticed that some folks react to life differently. Some folks are always gloomy, even in the the best of times. Some folks lose their spiritual focus when something negative happens in their life. And some of those folks allow that negativity to spread throughout their thinking, attitude, behavior and relationships. Saying the words of praise is not a mantra or incantation or magical phrase or a trick to get God's blessing. We must be in a place of true submission, praise and thanksgiving when we say the words of praise. It needs to be a "whole man reaction," to God. We need to praise Him when things are, "good" and when things are, "not so good," because God is always good, He never fails, He never leaves us or forsakes us and, "all things work together for good to those who love the Lord."

This great truth has seen me through countless trials and losses. No matter what happens, "Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised."

04/25/23 REPOST... DELIVERANCE FROM SIN

04/25/23 REPOST... DELIVERANCE FROM SIN

I posted this short overview a year ago. But God posted the original, in much more detail, thousands of years ago.

04/24/22
Salvation saves us from sin and sinning.

It is true that a Christian SHOULD NOT SIN (since we are saved from sin and sinning).

It is true that a Christian CAN NOT SIN (we are delivered from sin's domination, and we are enabled and empowered to obey God.

It is possible and expected that Christians do not sin).

It is true that a Christian CANNOT SIN (the life of faith and the life of the Holy Spirit within us are contrary to continuing, ongoing sin).

It is true that a Christian CAN sin (but it is rare and it must be confessed and turned from in order to remain in faith. Unintentional, unplanned sin must be renounced immediately if we want to continue in a right relationship with God).

Here are just three passages, upon which I base my statements. These passages clearly state the Biblical truth that salvation is deliverance from sin in this present evil world. 

1 John 2:1-6
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 

Romans 6:1-23
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 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. 

1 John 3:1-10
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 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.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

04/25/23 NOT DISTURBED ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS

04/25/23 NOT DISTURBED ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS

Conservatives get bent out of shape when they think about how the government and Liberal society maneuvered them with false information concerning COVID, concerning masks, concerning distancing, concerning the lock downs, and rightfully so because it was wicked not just misinformation.

Why aren't Christians bothered at all with the misinformation that they're pastors and the rest of "Christian" society around them are promoting, by telling us that we cannot be delivered from sin and telling us that we cannot be made more than conquerors through Christ? Where is the uproar over that?

The promotion of sinning religion is far more destructive than any social, political corruption. But sin is more palatable than infringements on earthly freedoms. Just look at the way Christendom has opened its arms to divorce, sex before and outside of marriage, homosexual "marriage," transgendering, sex with children, drugging, gambling, profanity, pornography, family values, civil behavior, and the list goes on.

There was a time when churches would raise their voices against sin's encroachment, now they raise up against those who teach and and follow the Bible.

Though our society was not Christian, it publicly observed decency, truth, honesty, loyalty and other Christian principles. With each turning from Biblical morality and submission to God, our country moves further and faster into darkness and insanity.

04/24/23 HEADY RELIGION FAILS

04/24/23 HEADY RELIGION FAILS

Evidences that "heady" religion is not Biblical salvation are that cerebral "Christianity;"

Does not save people from sin and sinning;

Does not impart overcoming faith;

Does no produce perfect love or joy in the midst of sorrow, or peace that passes understanding, or hope where there is no hope,or rejoicing in the midst of trial or conformity to the image of Jesus or holiness of heart and life.

Those folk often have a zeal for human wisdom and religion, but their excitement about Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the word of God, Christ likeness, victorious living, total commitment is usually lagging. In fact, I have had people with heady religion come to me and ask questions about my beliefs; and though they can't argue against the Biblical witness, they are so bound to heady religion that they hold steadfastly to their joyless, unsatisfying beliefs.

This is especially interesting since heady religion claims that my doctrines are legalistic and create fear, sorrow and angst. But the reality is, those who have believed and have entered into full salvation have joy unspeakable and full of glory and they have a confidence in God and His word which carries them through the darkest moments and heaviest trials.

It is time to trade in your heady religion for heart changing, Spirit empowering, triumphant salvation.

04/24/23 CHOOSE YOUR BELIEFS CAREFULLY

04/24/23 CHOOSE YOUR BELIEFS CAREFULLY

I read and believe the whole Bible.

Believing in sinning religion is a devilish deception.

04/23/23 A GREAT BOOK TO HAVE

04/23/23 A GREAT BOOK TO HAVE

One of my favorite Bible survey books was, "The Unfolding Drama Of Redemption." It was written by William Graham Scroggie, a Baptist minister, who wrote about the deeper life (or higher life) of Sanctification, from a Keswick position.

Scroggie made the Bible narrative easy to follow for a the young Christian but thorough for the seasoned saint. I have always found the Title of his book to be intriguing. I think the idea that our life is an unfolding drama of redemption is a good way to frame our journey.

Sadly, some people's lives are stuck on the Title page, never making it to the INTRODUCTION, much less the chapters which lead to a wonderful ending.

Follow Jesus. Make your life an adventure, a love story, not a tragedy. The righteous live by faith, and remember, faith is the victory that overcomes the world.

04/23/23 WE NEED TO GO, NOT JUST KNOW

04/23/23 WE NEED TO GO, NOT JUST KNOW

When facing a decision, simply contemplating the road to success leads to nowhere.

It is not good enough to know the right way, we must go the right way. 

Psalm 32:6-8
6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him.
7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.  

Psalm 143:6-8
6 I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah
7 Answer me speedily, O Lord; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.

Proverbs 3:5-12
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. 

Proverbs 4:18-27
18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

04/23/23 HINDRANCES TO GROWTH

04/23/23 HINDRANCES TO GROWTH

As long as we argue for our own view, or for the worldly teachings of ungodly men (rather than yielding to the authority and revelation of God), we will be building a fortress of mud, a castle of vapor, a palace of refuse.
As long as we dig-in and resist Divine wisdom and counsel, we are undermining our own foundation.
As long as we reinforce our fallacious arguments, we are fortifying the bars that imprison our minds.

People refuse to abandon a failing cause because of personal pride.

Personal pride is the destroyer of our own making.
Personal pride is the poison we put into our own sustenance.
Personal pride is the fire that consumes our own lives.
Personal pride is the cancer that eats away our own peace, joy, love, confidence, comfort.
Personal pride is the acid that dissolves our own relationship with God and loved ones.
Personal pride is the weight that crushes our own dreams to dust.

04/23/23 SEEK, HUNGER, THIRST

04/23/23 SEEK, HUNGER, THIRST

I have sought to live by God's revealed word and I have endeavored to teach God's word to my family and congregations. Sometimes God has taken us off the beaten path of typical ministry and churchman-ship. In the rapid and ever changing world since the 1950s I have sought to believe, live and teach the Christian faith consistent with New Testament revelation. Many of the changes I have had to deal with were not written in ministry books. I often found myself following the Holy Spirit and His word into situations that required desperate prayer and study. I was not given the luxury of honing my gifts and skills of preaching, teaching, pastoring. I was too busy seeking, calling on and following the Holy Spirit into new frontiers and confronting new forms of resistance in our society, government, economics, academics.
I have tried my best to lead my people in the light of God's word.

I have tried to teach them Biblical truths and spiritual principles.
This has been good for my own personal growth in knowledge and grace.
However, there is something that has not changed through all of these decades. Learning, understanding, memorizing Scripture is as essential now as it has ever been. (in some ways it is more essential now, but that is a different article).

I encourage young people to learn the word, memorize the word, hide the word in their hearts.
Don't fill your lives or your minds with the foolishness (pleasures, entertainments, amusements, wisdom, knowledge) of this passing world.

The New Testament calls us to be filled with the good things of God.

Hunger and thirst after righteousness, and you shall be filled.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Be filled with the word of Christ.
Get to know the love of Christ that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all His wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Be filled with joy.
Be filled with goodness.
Be filled with comfort.
Be filled with the fruits of righteousness.

04/23/23 EASIER CAUGHT THAN TAUGHT

04/23/23 EASIER CAUGHT THAN TAUGHT

Sometimes the truth of God is easier caught than taught.

God's truth is sooner perceived and received by the heart of the humble than by the mind of the brilliant, because truth is more than the communication of temporal fact, truth is the communication of spiritual realities.
(passages taken from New King James Version) 

John 14:6-7
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 18:37
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

1 John 5:20
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 

Truth is received because it is truth and truth resonates within the mind, regardless of our education. God's truth is not an academic discovery, it is a relational revelation, shown to those who trust Him.

Explaining the truth often confuses the truth in people's minds. I am not arguing for blind acceptance. There must be a foundation of truth that is reasonable, but reason is not the strict domain of the "intellectual." Reason is not simply academic accomplishment. Reason is relational acknowledgement.

I can reason that something is true without knowing all of the facts of the subject. I can reason that something is true because of the source. Obviously there is no absolute reasoning without an absolute source of information. God and His word is our absolute source of information. Whether I comprehend it or not, I know that what God says, and what God does is true to His nature.

I don't have to know or understand the specifics of a subject (though it can be helpful) but if I know the Author, or if I know the Messenger I can know that the message is true, I can know that it is reasonable. If I have trouble understanding the Messenger or Author (God), then I need further enlightenment from Him. Another lesser messenger may help me but often times other messengers confuse the message rather than clarify the message. The biggest help a Christian scholar can be to the Church is to provide a faithful translation of what God said. Human interpretations and philosophies are more detrimental than helpful.

I tell you this because there are so many voices garbling the message. To a great extent, the Author (God) gave us His message clearly in Scripture. He also spoke to His people through appointed and anointed messengers, and ultimately has spoken to us through His Son, the Messenger of the Covenant, and in His written word, given by the Holy Spirit. Today God uses Bible believing, Holy Spirit led human messengers to broadcast His word, His truth.

Through the years men have lost either the Message of God or they have lost the meaning of God's Message. This is when human attempts to convey God's message often confuses the meaning of God's truth. Men think they must explain God's word through fallible human logic or academics. Men settle for human counterfeits because it is easier to fill our minds with worldly wisdom than to yield our minds and lives to Divine reason and authority.

God intended for all men to have a knowledge of His word, His way and His will. However, when men refuse to accept the revealed word of God they resort to man-made philosophies and theologies, usually leading people away from Divine enlightenment rather than into Divine truth.

As a result, men, even sincere and honest men, get caught in the trap of accepting and believing the explanations of men rather than the simple, but profound, word of God. Two important things are needed to understand God's word (at least understand that which He wants us to understand at any given time); these two things include knowing and understanding the Person, Nature and Work of God and also knowing and understanding the word of God. If you are "understanding" God's word, based on the teachings of people who contradict, diminish and reject the word of God then you are not actually understanding God's word.

I get tired of wading through tomes of worldly and fancy footwork theologies, based on human wisdom. I have no time for "Biblical" arguments that glorify man's intellect and charisma. God gave us His word so that we might know Him. He gave us His word so that we might be conformed to His image. He wants to draw us to Himself. Though God is a God of righteousness, judgment and justice, He wants to rescue, redeem and restore fallen men to a right relationship with Himself. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, though He does celebrate the triumph of holiness over sin.
We should fill our hearts and minds with truths that glorify His goodness, His mercy, His kindness, His love, His Justice, His righteousness. 

We get an insight to God's interactive nature, His moral attributes, by considering His special communicable traits instilled within His people through His Holy Spirit, and especially from His description of love, which He refers to as, "the more excellent way."

Galatians 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

As important as the laws, the justice and judgments of God are, we are told,

Romans 13:8-12
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

As important as God's characteristics are, we are told that God is love.

1 John 4:16-19
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
19 We love Him because He first loved us.

Love does not exclude or negate the other characteristics of God, but love is paramount in the characteristics of God. God hates sin but God loved the world to such an extent that He sacrificed His Son to become the Savior of all men.

1 Timothy 2:3-6
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

1 Timothy 4:10-11
10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
11 These things command and teach.

04/21/23 WHY I "HARP"

04/21/23 WHY I "HARP"
(this will take you between 5 to 10 minutes to read, but it might help someone in their daily walk and lifelong journey: it may be worth the time).

I preach and teach about a wide variety of issues related to our spiritual lives (doctrinal, practical, social, relational, political, moral, economic, recreational, educational). There are periods of time when I focus on a specific subject and I address it from many different angles. I deal with the lies of sinning religion almost all of the time, since it is the counterfeit, which Satan wants us to believe, and sin is the life he wants us to live. I often expose the lies of the supposed Divine decree of our inability to choose to believe on Christ; the false doctrines of unilateral and unconditional salvation, limited atonement, and the blatant lie that sin does not separate us from God.

I also realize that I address these issues a lot in my writings. This is because the doctrines of sinning religion are running rampant. It was not always this way. However, those who have espoused the false teachings of Augustine and Calvin have flooded the internet, and since people go to the internet for information they encounter the most visited, most popular sites, which are Reformed and Calvinistic.

Since there is a flood of false doctrine, I respond to the darkness by shining the light of Scripture, though some folks, even in my own congregation, may think I over react. I don't want any of my family or my congregation to ever turn from light to darkness. Let me tell you how that can happen through the following steps (*).

*Truth sets people free, but it only frees the people who believe the truth.

*We are born with God's grace already active in our lives, and God extends His love, mercy and grace to us through His goodness, kindness, enlightenment and the restraining work of the Holy Spirit in our world, but we are born with a spiritual "bent to sin."
*As a result of this "sinful nature," at some point we choose to do that which we know is evil (to whatever degree it may be, it is still sin) and we become accountable for our sin.

*At some point we hear the gospel of Christ's sacrificial and salvific death and resurrection for the sins of the world, and we hear the call of God to believe on Christ for Divine salvation, we then repent (turn from sin and turn to follow Christ); to confess our sins and confess our faith in Christ publicly.
*These are Divine conditions, which are declared in the Holy Bible. These are not humanly devised impositions, rules and regulations.

*When we respond in faith to the call of God (when we are "saved" from sin), which includes *justification (forgiveness of our past sins and being made righteous); *regeneration (new birth, aka born again, born of the Holy Spirit); *initial sanctification (our conscience and life is cleansed), *we are then empowered to live righteously.

*Salvation (being saved) transforms us from sinners to holy ones (saints) and enables us to keep God's commandments and to do that which is pleasing in His sight.
*Remember, entire sanctification (cleansing from the Old Man, deliverance from the Double Mind) comes to the believer subsequent to our conversion, as we come to understand our inherited sinful nature and our need to make total consecration.

*Believers are enabled through salvation live as God's word says,
*walk in newness of life;
*walk in the light, even as Christ is in the light;
*walk in the steps of Jesus;
*walk as Christ walked;
*walk in truth;
*walk in love;
*walk in faith;
*walk in good works;
*walk worthy of our calling;
*walk worthy of the Lord;
*walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh;
*walk in God's commandments;
*walk uprightly;
*walk in righteousness;
*walking in God's ways;
*walk in the perfect will of God (walk in perfect love);
*walk honestly;
*walk as children of light;
*walk circumspectly (carefully, wisely),
*believers still have a free will after salvation and after being filled with the Holy Spirit (as did Adam, though he was created without sin or flaw), therefore it is possible for the most advanced believer to choose sin, to turn from God's will, from God's grace, from God.
*The danger of going into sin is immediate and can be eternal.

The following emphasizes why I am so deliberate and persistent in warning people about sin and sinning religion.
*Sin has three postures; WALKING, STANDING and SITTING, each with a different degree of separation from God.

Psalm 1:1 points out that the blessed person:

*"Walks not in the counsel of the ungodly."
"To Walk" refers to the way we live.
"The Counsel" refers to influence promoted by someone.
"The Ungodly" refers to people who are not seeking or yielding to God and His word; they neglect God.

*"Stands not in the way of sinners."
"To Stand" refers to a commitment deliberate choice.
"The Way" refers to a specific behavior of someone.
"Sinners" refers to those who have chosen to willfully disobey God; they reject God.

*"Sits not in the seat of the scornful."
"Sits" refers to taking an immovable position.
"The Seat" is the assumed position of authority.
"The Scornful" refers to those who mock, ridicule, demean God and His word; they invect God.

*Each of these three postures leads to a more defiant and separated relationship concerning God.

I am pastor to family and friends. I am concerned that any one of them can be in a right relationship with God, but a lack of vigilance may lead them into sin.

*Going back into sin would start out in the life of a believer who hears, listens to the counsel of the ungodly. That has been the way of rebellion and backsliding since the beginning of mankind and it was the concern of Paul at the beginning of the Church Age.
*The believer does not have to be convinced, or well versed in the lies of darkness.
*However, when there is more garbage in than there is truth, then the person will slack off from a vital commitment to God and begin to absorb some of the false doctrines around them.

*The person (the one who is socially and morally responsible) but listens and is receptive to the counsel, the teaching, the philosophy, the worldview of the ungodly, will be more susceptible to more destructive false doctrines.

I am seeing this happen more frequently and more quickly than ever before. This is why I bear down on the plain truths of the Bible. I don't want my family members or my fellow church family to be nudged away from truth or drift into deception because the way of darkness will end in eternal loss and tragedy.