"Does Not The Lamb Of God Deserve The Reward For His Suffering?"
"Does He Not Deserve Those For Whom He Died?"

"I loathe myself when Christ I see
And into nothing fall
Content if God exalted be
And Christ be all in all"

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How Deep The Father's Love

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that nailed Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

(Words & Music by Stuart Townend)

(Click Above)

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The Essence Of Discipleship...

"When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was willing to risk his life in order to resist Adolf Hitler during World War 2, was hanged for his part in a plot to assassinate Hitler. He is also known for the quote above.

Here is the context of his famous quote:

"The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ.

As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death, we give over our lives to death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ.

When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow him, or it may be a death like Luther's, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time, death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at his call.

Jesus' summons to the rich young man was calling him to die, because only the man who is dead to his own will can follow Christ. In fact, every command of Jesus is a call to die, with all our affections and lusts. But we do not want to die, and therefore Jesus Christ and his call are necessarily our death as well as our life." ("The Cost of Discipleship", p. 99, 1937)

On the day Bonhoeffer died, as he was marched naked to the gallows, his last words were..."This is the end, but for me the beginning of life!"

"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1st John 5:11-12)

To Be A Disciple Of Our Lord Jesus Christ You Must...

Lay Down Your Life -- Give up and surrender all rights to yourself and your life once and for all (Luke 9:23-26).

Deny Yourself -- Say "no" to yourself, your wants, plans, desires, ambitions, fleshly lusts and sins (Colossians 3:5-17 & Galatians 5:24).

Take Up Yopur Cross Daily -- Bear with and endure that thing in your life right now that you absolutely do not want (Matthew 10:38 & 2nd Timothy 2:3).

Follow Him Wherever He Goes -- No longer live your life according to your will, but only according to His will for your life (Luke 22:42 & Revelation 14:4).

Do What Ever He Says -- Does a servant ever question or disobey his King? Obedience is crucial. It is everything (John 2:5).

Not quite what you are used to hearing these days, is it?

I Want To Be Like Jesus

Think about this, God's divine "Sons of God" and His angels, those who have not rebelled against Him that is, are fiercely loyal and unwaveringly obedient to Him. And even though they, like us, have free will to choose otherwise, they cannot be moved. It is their nature to be so. It is how and who they were created to be and they willing choose to accept this.

We humans, on the other hand, come out of the womb in rebellion against God. We were "formed in sin and shaped in iniquity", according to Scripture. We "drink iniquity like water", according to Job and, God says, "the thoughts and intents of man's heart is nothing but evil continually." Thus, it is our nature to be so. However, it is not how and who we were created to be. We too, like God's obedient Heavenly beings, have free will to choose otherwise.

Thanks to the incomprehensible sacrifice the Lord Jesus Christ made for we humans on the cross, and His subsequent resurrection and ascension, God's intent for us is that we be "conformed to the image of His Son", "who was tempted in all manner like as we are, yet without sin", and that we be glorified and made divine, humanly divine, in like manner as are all the rest of His obedient Heavenly beings.

Unfortunately, most everybody you see and even know are seemingly totally clueless as to God's intent for them and are simply living their lives according to their nature. Their rebellious, self-centered, anti-christ nature. And unless and until God quickens their spirits and draws them to Himself, they are simply "dead in their trespasses and sins" and don't even know it, nor much less care.

Hence, if we truly wish to be "called by His Name" should we not, above all else, make it our "fierce and unwavering" ambition to allow Him to do with us as He pleases and "complete that which He has begun in us unto the day of Christ"?

How To Think Right

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:5-8)

And what was the result of His obedience?

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-10)

To the glory of God the Father indeed!

Proof You Have Been Born Again

"You must be born again." (John 3:7)

"Whoever has been born of God does not sin..." (1 John 3:9)

According to Oswald Chambers, "Am I seeking to stop sinning or have I actually stopped? To be born of God means that I have His supernatural power to stop sinning. The Bible never asks, "Should a Christian sin?" The Bible emphatically states that a Christian must not sin. The work of the new birth is being effective in us when we do not commit sin. It is not merely that we have the power not to sin, but that we have actually stopped sinning. Yet, 1 John 3:9 does not mean that we cannot sin, it simply means that if we will obey the life of God in us, that we do not have to sin." Or that we, just like His Son, choose not to sin? "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He did not sin." (Hebrews 4:15).

How Not To Sin

"Impossible!", you say. "Heresy!", you say. "No body's perfect!", you say. Really? If so, then what do you do with this: "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee." (Psalms 119:11) So said King David, "...a man after God's own heart..." (Acts 13:22) One would do well to read the whole chapter of Psalms 119.

Or how about this: "Awake to righteousness and sin not!" (1 Corinthians 15:34)

Let's get serious: either we mean business with God - in which case we will obey Him without question and, like David, hide His Word in our hearts and stop sinning; or we don't - in which case we will continue to make excuses for our sinfulness. Which, of course, we do at our own peril. "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins... (Hebrews 10:26)

So, which is it going to be? To sin or not to sin? That is the question. "Choose you this day!" (Joshua 24:15)

How God's People Should Live

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)

And...,

"...you should make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to mind your own business and work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)

The Problem In America Today

"Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." (Hosea 4:1)

God Has A Problem

We have turned the Gospel around and made it a solution to our problems and all we have ended up with is self-centered humanism - just another way for us to make ourselves god.

In other words, we see the Lord as a solution to our problems: He is our blessing machine if you will, who is simply waiting for us to ask Him to solve our problems and give us everything we want. After all, it's all about us, right?

On the contrary, the Lord did not come here to solve our problems, He came here to solve His problems. And what were His problems you ask? Us. And more specifically, the sin that dwells in us. So, He had to somehow remove the sin in us, root and branch, in order that we would be able to be who He created us to be so that we would be able fellowship with Him now and throughout eternity.

Put in a better way, "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world (because of sin), but to save the world (from their sin) through Him." (John 3:17)

By willingly laying down His life and suffering the incomprehensible agony of crucifixion, not to mention the shedding of His blood, Jesus put sin to death; He obliterated it once and for all. Now, it is up to each of us, who dare to be called by His name, to walk in the realization and truth of what He did for us on the cross and "put to death the (sinful) deeds of our flesh" (Romans 8:13) and allow Him to do that which He came to do, which is, "...conform us to the image of His Son." (Romans 8:29) "Does not the Lamb that was slain deserve the reward for His suffering?"

God commands us to "Awake to righteousness and sin not!" (1 Corinthians 15:34) Are we up to it? Are we willing to crucify the lusts of our flesh, to be so identified with the Lord and his crucifixion that we actively strive to die to ourselves and our sinful adamic nature and proclaim that we "have been crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20) until all that is left is the life of Christ in our flesh and blood? Well, are we? As John said, "I must decrease and He must increase." (John 3:30)

It's Time...Enough Is Enough!

"And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them." (Ezekiel 34:1-10)

The State of Things

"In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 17:6)

Or, how about this:

In these days there is no God in America and, therefore, everyone does what is right in his or her own eyes.

Is this not exactly how it appears to be in our nation today?

A Warning And Admonition

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, where unto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach." (1 Timothy 4:1-11)

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:10-13)

"Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:1-11)

How To Enter God's Kingdom

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." (Titus 2:11-12)

The current teaching on the grace of God tells us that we don't have to pay much attention to the verses in Titus above and others like it.

The current teaching on the grace of God tells us we are complete in Christ and that God no longer holds us accountable for our behavior or our sin. We are told that we should try to do good and not sin but, when we do, it doesn't really matter because God only sees His Son's blood and righteousness covering us, not our sin.

"But don't you know...that the goodness (grace) of God is intended to lead you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4)

Repentance means to turn away from sinning. Or simply put, to stop it!

"Awake to righteousness and sin not!" (1st Corinthians 15:34)

Thus, if we continue to sin we run the risk of forfeiting our inheritance and entrance into God's Kingdom. We can't have it both ways. Either God judges us for our sin or He does not.

"For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries." (Hebrews 10:26-27)

The current teaching on the grace of God tells us that the goal of the Christian redemption is to go to heaven and live forever in a beautiful mansion. This is simply not Scriptural. Rather, the goal of redemption is for God's people to be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the goal which every saint should be pressing towards above all else.

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:29)

The current teaching on the grace of God is the deadliest and most destructive heresy in Christianity today and has virtually destroyed the witness, testimony, credibility and spiritual life of most Christians throughout the world.

Disobedience to God and His Word got Adam and Eve kicked out of God's Kingdom on earth. And it is only by obedience (Godly behavior) to God and His Word, through faith in His Son Jesus Christ, that we will gain an entrance back into His Kingdom.

"For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20)

Furthermore, our entrance into God's Kingdom is only possible to the extent that we are changed into the image of His Son and brought into oneness with Him and His Father.

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17:21)

"For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2nd Peter 1:11)

Why Are We Here?

Why am I here? Why was I born? For what reason? What is my purpose in life? Have you ever asked yourself these questions?

Well, at least according to the "Shorter Catechism", "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever."

Sounds good. But how on earth can we, sinful, fallen and imperfect humans that we are, glorify God and enjoy Him forever? How is this possible? God is Holy and we are merely the dust of the earth. And dust is certainly not Holy.

Perhaps the answer to these questions lies in the following Scripture verse found in Galatians 4:19 where Paul says, "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you."

"Until Christ be formed in you."

"By Jove, I think we've got it!" This is why we are here. This is why we were born. This is the reason. This is our purpose in life.

Therefore, nothing else should matter...

"Until Christ be formed in you."

Give Me My Resurrection

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29)

So what will your resurrection be like? Will it be a "resurrection unto life", or will it be a "resurrection unto damnation"?

If you are unsure, may I make a suggestion?

"Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me."
(John 6:53-57)

"And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1st John 5:11-13)

The above verses sound like a sure way, perhaps the only way, to a "resurrection unto life" to me. How about you?

Abraham Or Lot?

Each of us, if we dare to be called by His Name, are obliged to respond to God's will for our lives. And depending upon our individual obedience to God's will, our lives will be reflective of either Abraham or Lot.

Lot, as you may recall, was not saved from God's wrath; in spite of the fact his uncle Abraham boldly pleaded before the Lord on behalf of the people of Sodom, the "city of sin", where Lot and his family dwelt, for assurance that the city would not be destroyed if fifty, and ultimately ten, righteous people were found there -- which the Lord graciously agreed to. But rather, Lot was saved because, mercifully, the two angels of the Lord, who were sent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, had to physically and forcefully drag Lot and his family out of the city. Obviously, he did not want to leave. Nor did he want to do what he was told once he was out of the city. (See Genesis 18-19)

So, the question is: are you willing to flee the "city of sin" in your life and seek to do God's will? Or, will you, like Lot, have to be forced to leave the "city of sin" in your life and then disobediently look back, as did Lot's wife, and be turned into a pillar of salt, rendering you dead to the leading of God in your life?

On the other hand, Abraham, Lot's uncle, had a much greater responsibility placed upon him by the Lord. Abraham was required to offer up his son, his only son, as a sacrifice to God. Which he willingly did because he believed God would provide a lamb for the sacrifice. Which, of course, God did. Whereupon, God then spoke to Abraham and said, "Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." (See Genesis 22)

Thus, like Abraham, each of us are required to offer up our "Isaacs" to God. And we are to do so obediently, faithfully and in the fear of God.

The question then remains: are you ready and willing to obey God above all else? Do you want God to say to you, as he did to Abraham, "Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your "Isaac"?

"But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away." (Isaiah 41:8-9)

Two Men

Paul says in Romans 7:19, "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."

There are two separate wills in the verse above, "two men", if you will. There is the "I" who desires to do good, and there is the "evil" who desires to not do good.

Which one of these two wills makes each of us who we are? Both of them do.

In 1st Corinthians 15:45-49 Paul says, "the first man Adam is a living being". He is "from the earth." However, he also "drinks iniquity like water" according to Job, and therefore, cannot be saved or redeemed. This stands in stark contrast to the multitude of false teachers today who tell everybody in their "Six Flags Over Jesus" churches that our "first man" is all good.

Paul goes on and says, "The second man is a life-giving spirit" and, "he is from Heaven." In other words, he is eternal. In fact, he is of the Kingdom of God and "cannot sin because he has been born of God". (I John 3:9)

So the question is very simple: which "man" is the stronger one in you, the first man, or the second man? If we are truly His, and are daily "abiding in Him", the second man will grow stronger in us each day until, as Paul said, "...Christ is formed in you!" (Galatians 4:19)

Oh! To experience the reality of Galatians 4:19!

"I (1st man) must decrease and He (2nd man) must increase."(John 3:30)

"I (1st man) am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I (2nd man) live; yet not I (1st man), but Christ lives in me (2nd man): and the life which I (2nd man) now live in the flesh I (2nd man) live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me (1st man), and gave himself for me (2nd man)." (Galatians 2:20)

"Unless We Become As Little Children..."

The following is from "Approved Unto God" by Oswald Chambers and is more applicable today than ever:

"To believe in Jesus means much more than the experience of salvation in any form, it entails a mental and moral commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ's view of God and man, of sin and the devil, and of the Scriptures."

"How much intellectual impertinence there is today among many Christians relative to the Scriptures, because they forget that to 'believe also' in Jesus means that they are committed beforehand to His attitude to the Bible. He said that He was the context of the Scriptures, '...they are they which testify of me.' We hear much about 'key words' to the Scriptures, but there is only one 'key word' to the Scriptures for a believer, and that is our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. All the intellectual arrogance about the Bible is a clear proof of disbelief in Jesus. How many Sunday School teachers today believe as Jesus believed in the Old Testament? How many have succumbed to the insolence of intellectual partisanship about the Person of our Lord and His limitations, and say airily, 'Of course, there is no such thing as demon possession or hell, and no such being as the devil'? To 'believe also' in Jesus means that we submit our intelligence to Him as He submitted His intelligence to His Father. This does not mean that we do not exercise our reason, but it does mean that we exercise it in submission to Reason Incarnate. Beware of interpreters of the Scriptures who take any other context than our Lord Jesus Christ."

It Is Time To Seek The Lord!

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12)

Why Are We Saved?

Which of the following is true?

We are saved:

1) To go to Heaven. God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for us in order that we might be able to go to Heaven and live in a mansion when we die.

2) That the life of the Son of God might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. That Christ might be magnified in our bodies, whether by life or by death. That we might become one with Jesus as He is one with His Father in order that the world may know and believe that God sent His Son into the world because He loves them just as He loves His son. (See 2nd Corinthians 4:10-11; Philippians 1:20 & John 17:21-23)

In case you are wondering, #1 above is not true. There is no Scriptural basis whatsoever for believing this. Whereas, #2 above is true. This is why we are saved.

As the Apostle Paul said...,

"My little children in whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." (Galatians 4:19)

"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 fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13)

"...may grow up into Him in all things..." (Ephesians 4:15)

"For whom He did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son..." (Romans 8:29)

As God's people we are supposed to bear a strong family likeness or resemblance to His Son Jesus Christ. #1 above will not get us there, but #2 will.

Man Of God Or Wolf In Sheep's Clothing?

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." (Matthew 7:15)

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (2nd Corinthians 11:13-14)

A true man of God does not tell us how good we are, or how to live our best life now, or how to have a purpose driven life. A true man of God tells us to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand! A true man of God tells us that we are dead in our trespasses and sins. A true man of God tells us we are sinners standing in need of a Saviour. A true man of God tells us that we must put to death all of the sin, self-will and worldliness in our lives and personalities. A true man of God tells us that we must come out of the world and lay down our lives, deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow the Lord. A true man of God tells us that there is one and only one way to God: through His beloved Son Jesus Christ.

"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Contrary to the so-called "success-in-life" teaching that so permeates apostate Christianity today, God is NOT a blessing machine waiting to give us everything we want whenever we want it. On the contrary, God has already given us everything we need by the incredibly incomprehensible sacrifice of His beloved Son Jesus Christ on the Cross for our sins. Now, He wants to know what we are going to do for Him.

Most of the popular preachers of the world today refuse to preach the truth according to the Word of God. As such, they are deceivers of the first rank. They are, in fact, "wolves in sheep's clothing". And if you follow them and believe they are "true men of God" you need to ask God if you are correct because we can't both be right.

Just Say No!

"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." (Romans 6:6)

Have you put sin to death in your life yet or are you still a slave to it? Have you "reckoned yourself dead indeed unto sin"? (Romans 6:11) Are you so identified with the Lord's death that sin is dead in you?

Oswald Chambers said, "It is the great moment in my life when I do decide that just as Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world, so sin must die out in me, not be curbed or suppressed or counteracted, but crucified. Have I entered into the glorious privilege of being crucified with Christ until all that is left is the life of Christ in my flesh and blood?"

"For I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives within me." (Galatians 2:20)

"Awake to righteousness and sin not." (1st Corinthians 15:34)

Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem!

THE HOLY CITY -- 1952

Thus saith the Lord,"Touch not my anointed ones..." (1st Chronicles 16:22)

And, "I will bless those who bless you and him who dishonors you I will curse..." (Genesis 12:3)

Bad News!

"Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters." (1st Samuel 30:1-5)

This was indeed some very bad news for David and his people. What do you do when you receive bad news? What do you suppose David did upon hearing this bad news?

"But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." (1st Samuel 30:6)

A very wise and effective way to deal with bad news, wouldn't you say?

In Case You Were Wondering

HE LIVES!

"For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (1st Corinthians 15:16-19)

In point of fact, at this very moment He is seated at the right hand of the Father (see Ephesians 1:20-23) and ever lives to make intercession for us (see Hebrews 7:25).

And how does Jesus pray for us?

"That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Oh righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:21-26)

Wow! What a prayer! Now what do you suppose the odds are that the Father will answer His Son's prayer?

Are You Ready?

"...saying, 'Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.'" (Luke 19:42-44)

In case you didn't know, the day of the Lord is upon us. Terrible trouble, hard times and great tribulation lies immediately ahead.

Are you ready? Are you prepared?

In light of the terrible trouble that is quickly approaching us, here are some wonderful promises from God:

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling." (Psalms 46:1-3)

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12)

"I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me." (Proverbs 8:17)

Is This You?

Since mine eyes have looked on Jesus,
I've lost sight of all beside,
So enchained my spirit's vision,
Gazing on the Crucified.

-- Oswald Chambers

From Whence We Speak

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2nd Timothy 3:16-17)

Therefore, the following is God's Word to America:

"The voice of the Lord cries to the city, and it is sound wisdom to fear your name: 'Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it! Can I forget any longer the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed? Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights? Your rich men are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow, making you desolate because of your sins. You shall eat, but not be satisfied, and there shall be hunger within you; you shall put away, but not preserve, and what you preserve I will give to the sword. You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine. For you have kept the statutes of Omri, and all the works of the house of Ahab; and you have walked in their counsels, that I may make you a desolation, and your inhabitants a hissing; so you shall bear the scorn of my people."

"Woe is me! For I have become as when the summer fruit has been gathered, as when the grapes have been gleaned: there is no cluster to eat, no first-ripe fig that my soul desires. The godly has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among mankind; they all lie in wait for blood, and each hunts the other with a net. Their hands are on what is evil, to do it well; the prince and the judge ask for a bribe, and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul; thus they weave it together. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright of them a thorn hedge.The day of your watchmen, of your punishment, has come; now their confusion is at hand. Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms; for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house." (Micah 6:9-7:6)

There is, however, hope for God's people and it is as follows:

"But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me." (Micah 7:7)

"He who has ears to hear" had better hear for the day of the Lord is upon us!

What's Next?

America is a nation that is terminally divided. A "house divided" if you will.

"Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand." (Matthew 12:25)

"And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand."
(Mark 3:24)

Say "goodbye" to America. Its leaders are wicked God haters and the people are mourning and groaning because of it (see Proverbs 29:2). America has been weighed in the balance and found wanting. "Ichabod" is written on its walls. America has "sown the wind" through its open rebellion against God and its blatant rejection of His ways and His laws and is now going to "reap the whirlwind". God's judgement is at the door and that door will be thrown wide open very soon, very dramatically and very tragically.

If you believe you are one of God's people and you haven't been living your life "as unto Him", your only hope is to immediately seek Him with all your heart like never before and repent of all your sin, self-seeking and worldliness and ask for His mercy and forgiveness through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ and then start living right!

And if you are not one of God's people, it may already be too late for you. However, God is a merciful God and "willing that none should perish". Therefore, you need to immediately repent and ask God to forgive you for your sins, and by faith receive the blood atonement of His Son Jesus Christ for your sins and pray like crazy that He will receive you. Otherwise, may God have mercy on your soul.

"Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has done it? For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:6-7)

Tough Times Ahead

America has turned its back on God, and we are now seeing the removal of His covering from our nation.

In light of what the "evil doers" in Washington, D.C. just did, this country is headed straight towards destruction now more than ever and the soon coming mark-of-the-beast and God's people are going to have to quickly make up their minds about who they are going to serve. No more buying or selling, or even working, without the mark (see Revelation 13:16-17 & Revelation 14:9-12).

Tough times and tough decisions are immediately ahead for God's people.

All the more reason to draw as near as possible to Jesus and trust in Him for all the answers as to what you should do in the days ahead.

"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." (Joel 3:14)

"This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus." (Revelation 14:12)

Some of us may soon have the opportunity to join the ranks of our brothers Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who firmly believed, regardless of the consequences to themselves, that it is better to serve God, NOT man (see Daniel 3:8-18).

Are You Ready?

"Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near."
(Isaiah 55:6)

Great change is coming. Cataclysmic change. Very soon, imminently so, God is going to pour out His wrath on the nations that do not know Him, and on the people that refuse to call on His name (see Jeremiah 10:25). And in case you are wondering, this most assuredly includes the United States of America.

Are you prepared? Have you made yourself ready? Will you be able to stand in the soon coming chaos, that which the Bible refers to as "the evil day"? Are you ready and willing to leave everything and follow Christ?

If not, you are not a disciple. You are not a Christian. A true Christian/disciple is one who forsakes his life and everything about it and takes up his cross and follows the Lord Jesus Christ wherever He goes and does whatever He says, all the time, no matter what, without question or hesitation (see Luke 14:26-27).

A true Christian/disciple says, "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart." (Psalm 40:8)

Those who are truly "abiding in Christ", who are "eating His flesh and drinking His blood", who have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb", are the only ones who will be able to stand in the shaking that has already begun. There is no more time for indecision. The Day of the Lord is at hand.

"...choose this day whom you will serve..." (Joshua 24:15)

Are You A Son Of God?

"For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." (Romans 8:13-17)

Why We Are Here:

"Jesus said to them again, 'As the Father has sent me, even so send I you.'"
(John 20:21)

And how did the Father send His Son Christ Jesus?

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)

Are we then, as God's people, willing to be sent in the same manner as was Jesus?

Let's put it this way: if we aren't then we are certainly not one of the Lord's disciples: which would then bring into question whether we are even one of God's people at all.

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2nd Corinthians 13:5)

Right Before Our Eyes:

"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:22)

Scripture is being fulfilled right before our eyes today. A headline on MSNBC reads: "Chile Earthquake May Have Shortened Days".

The Chile earthquake was an indescribably tragic event--especially for those people whose lives have been destroyed because of it--but God is on the move in the earth right now in a BIG way and He is going to "shake everything that can be shaken." (Haggai 2:6-7)

Therefore, God's people need to be waiting, watching, listening and praying now more than ever for, as the Lord Himself admonishes us, "when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:28)

This Is It!

"Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, 'Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few'. And his armor-bearer said to him, 'Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.'" (1st Samuel 14:6-7)

Is this not the summation of what it means to be a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ? Is this not the meaning of it all in one succinctly short yet profoundly meaningful sentence?

"Behold, I am with you heart and soul."

This is exactly what the obedient servant says to his master, is it not? "Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul." In other words, "Not my will but thine be done."

Have you reached this place in your life yet? Are you willing to lay down your life, your plans, your hopes, your desires and your dreams to become the Lord's armour bearer? Are you all in like this young man was? Have you given up the right to your life to this extent? Are you able to say to Him, as did this young man, "Behold, I am with you heart and soul"?

But One Thing Is Needful:

Contrary to the current, false and deadly teaching of grace which excuses our sinful behaviour, God's grace is meant to lead us to repentance, which leads to godly behaviour, which in turn leads to holiness: the "one thing needful" if we hope to see the Lord one day.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:11-14)

"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" (1st Peter 1:14-16)

"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."
(2nd Corinthians 7:1)

"...for without holiness no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14)

What's On Your Mind?

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:5-8)

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
(2nd Corinthians 2:9)

A guaranteed way to destroy our spiritual life is by allowing ourselves to become entangled with the "cares of this world". Striving for more money, a bigger house, a newer car, a better paying job (with benefits), or a higher standard of living is simply not acceptable for God's people.

Aren't we, as God's people, supposed to be about our Father's business and not our own?

If Jesus became poor for our sakes why do we think we deserve to live any better than He did? Is the disciple above his Master? Shouldn't we rather be about seeking His will for our lives in all areas of our lives and asking Him to show us how and in what manner we should live and then when He does, humbly thank Him for it?

If we "let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus" we will.

What Do You Want?

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." (Hebrews 13:12-14)

So what do you want? Do you only want Jesus to bless you, or do you want to know Him as deeply and as intimately as you possibly can? Are you only interested in what He can do for you, or are you willing to become so identified with Him that you can honestly say, "I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me"?

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