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Good day. Today's video Peace Keepers is on the topic of keeping yourself in the peace of God; in good standing with Him. Keep means to guard, attend to, or hold fast. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry or by clicking on our archive page link above - Doctrine of Christ Ministry Archive. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning. Today's video Defile Not is on the topic of not defiling the temple of the living God, which temple you are. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (KJV) Defile means to corrupt or destroy. You are the temple of the living God; you have the Spirit of God dwelling within you. You are not your own, and this includes all mankind, for all souls are God’s (Ezekiel 18:4); and whether we live or die we are His. Corruption cannot inherit incorruption, so do not think you can live whatever life or lifestyle you want without consequences. You cannot partake of the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. Friendship with the world is enmity with God; because evil communications corrupt good morals; a little leaven allowed in will leaven the whole lump. You cannot defile yourself with mankind, whether it be physically or spiritually, and expect God to be pleased with you. So if you are not being led by the Spirit of God, then you will be cast out and will not have access to the tree of life any longer and will not inherit eternal life. If you destroy the temple of God, this includes suicide and murder, God will destroy you; not because I say so, but because God has said so. If you abort God, he will abort you. There are no gray areas with God; His word is simple, but man (the carnal mind) corrupts the simplicity of it. Genesis 3:22-24 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from where he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (KJV) Drove out means to cast out, divorce, drive away, expel, surely put away, or thrust out. In the beginning sin separated mankind from God. And God drove out Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden and shut up the way to the tree of life, guarding it so that corruption could not inherit eternal life. But God so loved us that he made a way of escape from this corruptible life through the sacrifice and resurrection of his son Jesus Christ. In this selfless act of love on a daily basis, even unto death on the cross, you were bought with a price. Now through Jesus Christ we have the forgiveness of sins. That doesn’t mean that once you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior that you can do what you want without consequences; to him that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin; and sin brings forth death, separation from God. James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (KJV) But thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, his unspeakable gift of grace. We have been given this treasure, Christ in us the hope of glory, in whom we have access to all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Unlimited power and wisdom of God which is able to keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Now we have the power and wisdom of God to keep our hearts and minds; the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; and the helmet of salvation, the mind of Christ to keep the way of salvation, to keep the tree of life within us protected from any ungodly thing which tries to enter in and corrupt the good word and work of God which he has begun within us. We have the mind of Christ, the sword of the Spirit to keep the way of life and we have a responsibility to use them to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ so that when our obedience is fulfilled, disobedience is punished. We are to take heed (give attention) to what we hear, see, and do; rightly dividing the word of truth so that doubt is unable to enter in and lead us to sin, which is unbelief (letting man, the corrupt nature, be true and God the liar). Don’t let doubt enter into your temple, not even for a moment (a thought), but cast is out and place it into captivity so that it does not lead you down the path of imaginations which could lead to sin if acted upon and then death, spiritual separation (divorce) from God our Father. Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (KJV) Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Whatever you allow into your heart will eventually come out. Whether it is unto life or unto death. Matthew 15:18-20 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands defileth not a man. (KJV) So dearly loved of God, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and us; be not as the many which corrupt the word of God in which they began, having allowed the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things to enter into their hearts and choke the word, and it has become unfruitful (you will know them by their fruit); but be as the few who continue to hear the word of God and keep (guard, obey) it in sincerity and in truth within their hearts, for you will also know them by their fruit, that it is good fruit and of the tree of life, for they walk in the righteousness of God and give God through his Son Christ Jesus the praise, honor and the glory forever and ever, Amen. Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. (KJV) You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning. Today's video Changing is on the topic of changing from relying on the outward to the inward. 2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (KJV) We should be ever changing in our walk in the Spirit; walking more by faith and less by sight; not being limited by just the outward. Our outward man is perishing, but the inward man is to be renewed day by day from relying on the outward, what you can see, hear, and touch, to relying more on the inward, the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit, Christ in you the hope of glory. Without faith it is impossible to please God; one must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. It is not the outward worship that will get you home; it is the inward, God is a Spirit and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth, for those are the ones that he is seeking. The just shall live by faith. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (KJV) Our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. We were given the mind of Christ; now it is learning on a daily basis to operate in that mind, being led by the Spirit so that we are able to come to know the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God for ourselves. 1 Peter 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. (KJV) The old man, the old nature that we were born into this world with, is perishing each moment that we choose to walk in the Spirit; changing of the guard so to speak, being armed with the mind of Christ which enables us to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God; and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ in us. And in the mind of Christ we have a readiness to punish disobedience when our obedience is fulfilled just as the Lord Jesus Christ did (Colossians 2:12-15). Man does not live by bread alone (physical), but by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God (being led by the Spirit). Changing from going by our natural senses to our spiritual senses which should be exercised to discern both good and evil; to discern between the voice of the Lord and the voice of a stranger (Satan). We have an unction (the mind of Christ) from the Holy One and know all things. 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (KJV) There are many who are ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth which is in them. Why? Because although they may have begun in the Spirit, they are now trying to perfect their walk according to the flesh by following man’s traditions and doctrines instead perfecting their walk according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, which was given unto us to lead and guide us into all truth; i.e. to know all things according to wisdom of God and not the wisdom of men or that of the world. Colossians 1:26-28 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (KJV) Our Father desires for us to go from a child of God, to a perfect mature man/woman of God in Christ Jesus. Able ministers of the truth that was in Jesus, which is also in us; Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God; and our only hope of glory. God bless. 1 Peter 1:13-16 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (KJV) Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: (KJV) You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning. Today's video Short Work is on the topic of The last days; the Lord said he would do a short work. Romans 9:27-29 Isaiah also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. And as Isaiah said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah. (KJV) Brethren the time is short; we are in the last times and have been since the Lord left this earth being raised up to sit on the right hand of God. The Lord said he would do a short work upon the earth to give us a way of escape from destruction, spirit, soul, and body. He left us a seed, and that seed is Christ in us the hope of glory so that we too can overcome the wicked one that is in this world through the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit into all truth in the knowledge of God our Father and His Son Christ Jesus our Lord; and of all that our Father has given us we should lose nothing, except the son of perdition which is our old nature, that Christ may raise us up holy and unblameable before God. 2 John 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. (KJV) Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (KJV) There are many deceivers and antichrist’s out there in the world today seeking to deceive you out of your crown which is laid up for you in heaven. Not only those whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things; but also the false prophets who stand in the pulpits or on the street corners to be seen of men who promise you liberty, but they themselves are the servants of corruption. The time will come when many will not endure sound doctrine but will heap to themselves, teachers having itching ears; that time is now. You can see what is happening in the religious organizations which claim to be of God but in works deny him; they are more interested in fitting into the world and its ways, as well as preaching for filthy lucre sake to fill their own pockets, robbing the church blind (spirit, soul, and body), than to hold fast the profession of faith without wavering and to teach others to do the same. Scofield note: Message to Laodicea: the church in the final state of apostasy. Revelation 3:14-19 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (KJV) Dearly loved brethren; today if you will hear the Lord’s voice harden not your hearts in the day of temptation as others who were overthrown in the wilderness, knowing that your salvation draws near; today is the day of salvation; now is the accepted time. Watch and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that are to come upon the proud and disobedient. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. God bless. Revelation 3:20-22 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (KJV) You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning. Today's video The Son - Part25 is on the topic of who the Son of God is; he that is not with Christ is against Him. Luke 11:21-26 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. (KJV) The warnings Church are clear. Our strength is in Christ. If we continue to abide in him, he will continue to abide in us; and in Him we have his fullness to help us to discern between good and evil, to rightly divide the word of truth, and the strength to come out from among anything or anyone that is not healthy for us in spirit, soul, or body. A little leaven allowed in will leaven the whole lump. If we don’t keep vigilant in our relationship with the Lord, remaining and gathering with Him (holding too and being the workman who needs not to be ashamed in the gospel of Christ), then we will be counted as against him and our goods will be scattered. And we could end up like the strong man who did not keep his palace (not remaining diligent in the Spirit holding to the gospel of Christ); or be overtaken by the unclean spirit again with seven other of his buddies more wicked than himself, and the last state of ourselves would be worse than the first. 2 John 1:7-11 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (KJV) There are many false prophets with their false doctrines that have infiltrated the Church today; just as in the Old Testament times when Israel intermingled with other nations (the Gentiles) and took on their customs, worshiping and serving their gods, and look at what the consequences were. They left their first love. Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (KJV) It is no different for the Church today; if you are not abiding in and holding fast to the grace and gospel of Christ, but have turned unto another gospel other than that which Jesus Christ preached unto you, then there are consequences for what you allow into your house. It will eat away at your foundation and eventually your house will fall. For strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leads unto life and few be there that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in that way. Abiding in Christ is a strait and narrow path; God does not lie, neither does he compromise. The Lord did not preach for filthy lucre (money) sake and neither did he ever ask his ministers too. So why are many Christians supporting those ministers and their ministry who do? And why when these so called men of God compromise to fit into the world and its ways do many Christians continue to support them? And why as a Christian would you compromise to fit into the world and its ways and what they say is good and right, rather than fitting into the kingdom and righteousness of God and what He says is good and right? We are in a time where many will not endure sound doctrine but are heaping to themselves teachers having itching ears. Remember, you too were once on that wide path that leads to destruction, but when you accepted Jesus Christ you were separated unto God, and were removed from the path of destruction by the grace of God and placed on his path of life. Now the devil wants nothing more than to have those who remain on the wide path leading to destruction beguile you off the path of life to join them again in their excess. This is why we are to watch and pray always; lining up what we hear or see with the word of God; letting God be true and every man a liar, which includes those in the pulpits and our old man (thinking); and try the spirits whether they be of God or not. Because if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, they are not with God and His Son Christ Jesus, but against him. So Church, come out from among them and be separate and touch not the unclean thing; which are the doctrines of men, those of the world; and those who corrupt the word of God not holding the head, which is Christ, in sincerity and truth, but seek to glory in your flesh and bring you into bondage again to the commandments and traditions of men, not knowing Christ and his doctrine. Lest you become counted unclean before God; for evil communications do corrupt good morals. God bless. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Mark 14:37-38 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? (38) Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. (KJV)
The spirit truly is ready and willing to serve the Lord, while it is the flesh that is weak and would rather be doing something else. You know, if you were hired to do a job and the boss came around and found you sleeping on the job, how long before you think you might end up fired? Which is what will happen to those that are spiritually asleep and not keeping watch over their salvation. The flesh is weak because it is limited to this fallen carnal realm; while the spirit truly is willing, able to operate in a realm where all things are possible. As I look around this fallen world I see many that are weak because they choose to lean to their own understanding, things they can see, and not into the unseen eternal realm where one can have access to the Lord and the power of His might. 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (KJV) The Lord said many are called but few are chosen. As we see in verse 30 the many had become weak allowing sickness into the temple, and some are sleeping, in a spiritual stupor even to the point of death. Rather than examining themselves working out their own salvation, they gave in to the temptation of the flesh choosing an easier path rather than a straight and narrow one that leads to victory. Instead of watching and praying, exercising their spiritual senses to know and not just guess the difference between what was good and evil, they dosed off and let the enemy catch them with their guard down, making themselves an easy target. While you were eating and drinking in a place you thought was safe and healthy, you ended up ingesting a lot of poisonous doctrine, doctrines of man that catered more to the flesh than to the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-18 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (KJV) You know Church, there is still a law that is in play and that is the law of sin and death, which if the devil can catch a believer napping he would like nothing better than to have you put back under arrest and convicted. Once a believer has begun a walk in the Spirit it is vital to continue that walk, enduring to the end in order to obtain your eternal salvation. The more you walk in the Spirit the stronger you become, while on the flip side the more you stay in the flesh the weaker you are. As many as are led by the Spirit of God are truly the sons of God, and able to partake of His divine nature, operating in a realm so much higher and above all that we could ever ask or think of. Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (KJV) Sin, to put it in its simplest form, is unbelief. All sin is a result of unbelief which stems from one choosing the carnal over the Spirit. Death is the result of sin, which is another definition of sleep, and for some it will mean eternal separation from God. The law of faith is what brought you back from the dead and enlightened you to the realm of the Spirit allowing you to walk in a new life by leaving the old one behind. Just like with the laws of the land here on earth, there is an order to the law of the Spirit; one must abide by the law of faith, living a life that is based more on what I hear from God and less by what my fallen nature tries to dictate as truth. So which realm are you in today; are you up and at it, ready, willing, and able to worship our Lord today in Spirit and in truth, or are you still on your backside, knocked down and unconscious because you got sucker punched? Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (KJV) Once you enter the realm of the Spirit there are no laws or limitations on how far you can go, in fact you have just entered a realm that goes on for eternity. The question is how far are you willing to go? Well, if you are in the Spirit it never has to end; however, if you choose the flesh then it will come to an end, an end God did not intend for His people. When you pray and make your petitions to God through Jesus Christ you have tapped into a source of life that is not limited to what you can see, hear, or touch in this fallen realm, but it is able to do so much more above and beyond what you could have ever asked or thought of on your own. In fact when you revert back to the flesh, that being your carnal mind, then you have taken the Lord out of the equation by leaning to your own understanding; you then open yourself up again to the law of sin and death which has now cut off the source of living waters, which if it lasts to long will result in death. Proverbs 19:15-16 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. (16) He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. (KJV) Have you lost interest in your salvation; not as exciting as it used to be; instead of moving forward in your walk you have parked on the side of the road and are idling? Is the upkeep of your soul still your sole interest, or are you solely interested in what appeals more to the flesh than to the Spirit? 1Thessalonians 5:5-8 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (6) Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (7) For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. (8) But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (KJV) There is a Son that shines eternally, it never goes down or dims, but rather is described as a daystar which arises in our heart and gives enlightenment to the believer. If you end up sleeping spiritually and in the dark, it is because you chose a dark fallen realm rather than the eternal one where there is no darkness, neither shadow of turning. Mark 14:38-41 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. (39) And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. (40) And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. (41) And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (KJV) When the enemy is heading your way and trying to bring you back under arrest will you be watching and praying so that you don’t enter into temptation, or will you be easy prey for him? The spirit is willing; the flesh is weak, and is a weak excuse for those that choose their own desires ahead of our Lord’s. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Deuteronomy 28:13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: (KJV)
Have you ever had a favorite sports team you cheered for? How about these big cities that have their franchises, teams that have been around for a long time and have a big following, ever notice how fickle the fans are if the team starts losing? Oh boy, once they get on a roll and make it to the finals then the fans come out of the woodwork and jump back on the popular bandwagon again, acting like they never left. Well if you notice in the above verse, team Christ is made the Head, in other words they are always in first place and they never have to take a back seat to anyone or any circumstance either. Do you always keep this in mind, or are you acting like someone just kicked your tail end? The Lord made you the head, He didn’t put you in last place nor are you last on His priority list either. But He chose to die on your behalf even when you were a sinner playing for the other team. Now that you are part of His team, how much better is your life, knowing you are in first place and have the opportunity to remain there as long as you are willing and obedient to His word? The Bible says if God be for us then who can be against us. Would you like to take on God and see how you fare? Well, many have throughout the Bible, and have failed miserably I might add. In fact weren’t you quite miserable yourself before you knew the Lord, and were enemies and alienated from the life of God by your carnal thinking? With this in mind, hopefully a renewed one, why do so many of God’s people walk around acting like the tail and not the Head, acting like they are in last place instead of first? Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (31) Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (KJV) Hey speaking of head, how many hairs did you count on yours today? How about that sparrow that keeled over in your back yard, were you aware of that? Our Father in heaven was aware of it, just as He is aware of you and your need as well. So what was that hair count this morning, or did you lose count? Yet with this in mind we still doubt God or act like He doesn’t hear us or love us anymore, sounds rather birdbrain don’t it? A God that feeds sparrows and keeps an accurate head count of them is certainly not going to forget you is He? No, if fact your value is much more than a birds, just like one of your children would have more attention put on them than the birds in the backyard. So why all this fretting and fussing when you can’t even count the hairs on your own head, yet you have the audacity to doubt our Father in heaven? If you don’t like the results in your life then maybe you best be checking the direction you’re heading in and make sure it is the path our Lord intended for you to be on and not some dead end you chose to follow. Luke 12:24-26 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? (25) And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? (26) If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? (KJV) You ever wonder how the leaven got into the bread of life; subtly snuck in there when you weren’t looking or paying attention to details? Again we see an example of the birds, this time ravens which the word says God feeds them; did you ever stop and think about that? Are you not of much more value than these fowls? Yet that is how you act at times or think God sees you. Which of you being a parent would feed the birds and starve your children? That would be criminal and insane, yet that is how easy it is to drift off the path of life if one doesn’t keep a watch on the heart and monitor the mind bringing every thought into obedience to Christ. Consider the ravens; when is the last time you saw one drop over from heart failure because the stock market took a dive, or the price of fuel just rose another ten cents a gallon? Are we not better than these fowls, which is what is being asked in the above verses? In other words, when you cast all your care upon the Lord then do you leave it with Him letting Him do the caring for you? Or do you cast your cares upon the Lord and then like a fisherman reel them back in and reevaluate them thinking you can handle it yourself? Sound to simple, yeah that is the part we miss though, that simplicity. You know, instead of watching some hot shot preacher on TV tell you how to live, and how much better you could live if you show them the money, turn off the tube and look in the backyard and consider what is around you, right in front of you, and how simple the Lord would like us to live if we would only let Him be the Head of our life. Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (KJV) ‘Come unto me’, get steered in the right direction, go to the Head if you wish to be the head and remain in first place. How did things get so complicated, how did you get weighed down with so much burden and heaviness? Well it started ever so simple, so subtle; just snuck right by you while you were looking elsewhere to find rest. Do you remember where they put the yokes? Yup right around the neck which is attached to the head. All this excess weight and baggage you have been lugging around was it something our Lord asked you to carry, or is it something the enemy packed on while you weren’t looking? The Lord’s burden is easy; in fact it is light, otherwise He wouldn’t have said it. But that only applies when you let Him have it and not try to carry the load yourself. Ever hear of the two-headed monster? Well, that’s what happens to people when they become yoked with something of this world, double minded and unstable, unable to do what the Lord is asking because they are too weighed down with the cares of this life. The yokes on you; now it would do you good to make sure you put it on the Head, and not the tail end or you will end up with a big mess. Hebrews 12:1-2 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, (2) 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. (KJV) Remember what comes out of a cloud? Did you know you are surrounded with a cloudburst, ready to rain down on you in the form of living waters? Let’s get rid of all this excess baggage which is a result of sin; sin being unbelief. Let’s start looking above to a man that is seated at the right hand of God, the man being Jesus Christ who not only authored but finished our faith, providing all that was needed so that we could run this same course, the course that is heading home. A spiritual race requires a spiritual leader, so why not follow one that ran this race and is in first place so that you will be also, and all those that follow His lead. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Malachi 3:8-11 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. (9) Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. (10) Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (11) And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. (KJV)
Here would be another way to look at verse 10; cast all your cares and bring them to God’s storehouse, which is spiritual, and leave them there, letting Him do the caring for you. Being that our God already knows what you had need of before you asked, which by the way that need first and foremost is spiritual, then who better to cast it upon and leave it with than Him? Now that you have begun your walk in the Spirit, concentrate all your efforts and priorities toward the heavenly realm. You know, if someone in this world told or should I say dared you to prove them, then it would be fitting to think that they were confident and able to accomplish what they said. Are you willing to let your heavenly Father prove Himself in your life, or are you more confident in your own abilities? In looking at verse 11 I think of the many ranchers around Montana whose crops can start out so well but be wiped out with one hail storm. For those in Christ, and those that stay grounded and rooted in His promises, God promises to protect our spiritual crop so that it won’t be destroyed by the storms of this life. Remember people, you are a child of God and not just some credit card number, or someone that is merchandised for someone else’s benefit; so allow the Lord to work in your life and don’t settle for anything less. Deuteronomy 24:7 If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you. (KJV) You know, if someone took one of your children from you, then turned around and sold them to make profit off them, there would be an amber alert to get them back and stop this crime. How do you think our Father enjoys seeing His children going into spiritual captivity because of those that claim to be one of His who are robbing the people of truth and selling out to the way of the world and its thinking? According to Deuteronomy 24:7 it is a death sentence, separation from God, an evil that should be put away from God’s people and not supported by them. Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (KJV) When it would please our Father to give them His kingdom, it grieves Him to see it rejected by His own people, robbing Him the opportunity to work on their behalf and bless them the way they were intended to be blessed. Because they forget the law of God they too are forgotten of Him. When they should be bringing their attention and efforts to His storehouse which is spiritual, they are more wrapped up and concerned with the knowledge of this world and miss the mark, exchanging the truth for a lie; those that should be blessed have been cursed and rejected to what was rightfully theirs. John 2:13-16 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, (14) And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: (15) And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; (16) And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. (KJV) You know, if this is the example our Lord set for us while He walked this earth, then what makes people think that just because He left it is ok to make His house, which by the way we are, a house of merchandising? In fact when I look at the above verses and see that He made a scourge of small cords, He obviously was delivering a pretty stern message to the people. Now if this kind of mentality was not acceptable then, why would anyone think it is today? All this effort we have put in the past concerning our physical upkeep and gain should now be cast out, and replaced with a new set of priorities which are now aimed at the realm of the Spirit. Have you ever desired something in this life, and were bound and determined to get it no matter what; whether a job, husband, wife, anything or anyone you thought was going to bring you peace and fulfillment? Now imagine taking that same effort and mindset and applying it to the spiritual realm, letting God open His windows and not just pour out but receive all the spiritual blessings that are available in Christ. You are more than just merchandise to God, as your own children are to you, so don’t let anyone or any organization treat you like you are; because be assured that those that practice this kind of deception will also be met with a threefold cord when they try to gain access to their eternal reward as well. 2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (3) And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. (KJV) We see again how many rob God, and are robbed of His spiritual blessings because they fall for man’s cheap self serving damnable heresies which deny the truth our Lord delivered through His word, and keep the people in bondage. While it would be our Father’s good pleasure to open the windows of heaven upon those that are His, they keep the windows shut and damned up because of their false teachings. While mankind thinks bigger is better, the more the merrier, God is still looking for those few that are willing to walk that narrow path that leads to life, an eternal life that is rightfully theirs and given to them by the sacrifice of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Proverbs 3:13-18 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. (14) For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. (15) She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. (16) Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. (17) Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. (18) She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. (KJV) Where your treasure is today is where you heart is and what will determine your outcome. Are you willing to let go of the things of this life so that you can partake of the true riches, or are you robbing God the opportunity to bless you the way He intended? You are more than just a number or a piece of merchandise in God’s sight, and don’t be taken in by those that think and teach otherwise. It is our Father’s good pleasure to give you His kingdom, which is above and beyond anything you could have thought or imagined. So go partake of what is rightfully yours and don’t settle for anything less. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. (10) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (KJV)
Whenever there is an outbreak of a deadly virus, the first priority is to find the root cause of the deadly disease. Though many misquote this verse, saying money is the root of all evil, it’s not the money that caused the destruction, but rather the love of it, that is the downfall of many. So if money itself is not the problem, then why do so many think that money itself is the answer? After all who hasn’t turned on the TV, or a radio program, only to be indoctrinated with money pitches and schemes, especially the religious ones? Even this seed faith doctrine, which is based on the more you sow, the more you will reap, is basically nothing more than a pyramid scheme; those on top get the gold, and the others get the shaft. The reality is that there is only one seed according to the Bible, and it is not a physical one. Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (KJV) Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (KJV) They that sow to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; in other words those that try to manipulate and twist the truth to fit their own greedy lifestyles in the name of God are in for a world of hurt when they have to stand before Him and give an account of how they pilfered and stole from His people. 2 Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (KJV) The Lord Himself warned us about the many false prophets, wolves in sheep’s clothing that would rise up and deceive many. Be on the lookout, because if we allow something to overcome us because we were asleep at the wheel, that same thing will keep us in bondage until it is dealt with and pulled up by the roots. Many of these preachers, who end up being nothing more than auctioneers selling the word of God to the highest bidders, are prisoners of their own devices. To quote an old phrase, a fool and his money are soon parted; so don’t be fooled or lulled into sleep by these cheap hucksters. Haggai 1:5-7 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. (6) Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. (7) Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. (KJV) Years ago when I got into a financial situation which had become a burden and was pulling me down; my first thought was ‘God give me more money’. My thinking was that if I got more money, looking to something physical again to solve my spiritual problem, then I would be home free. The answer I received was quite different than what I expected; why would I give you more so you could go farther in debt? In other words, if you can’t manage what you have now, acknowledging who truly is your source and walk in Father’s wisdom, why would God fill up a money bag full of holes? In conclusion, the answer wasn’t more money, but rather seeking God’s wisdom on how to manage what He provided and not allow myself to be overcome in this area again. James 1:5-7 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (7) For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. (KJV) In the end it wasn’t a lack of money that was the problem, it was a spiritual issue that needed to be addressed and dealt with in order to move forward in my walk with God. Don’t be afraid to ask God for help, that is what He is there for. In fact His word says that we have not because we ask not. Spiritual issues require a spiritual answer; and if you look to the physical for the answer you will end up on a not so merry go round spinning in circles and dizzy. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Proverbs 14:29-30 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. (30) A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. (KJV)
Another manifestation of wrath comes in the form of envy. Envy is described as a jealous anger, as well as contentious rivalry. James 4:1-3 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? (2) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. (3) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. (KJV) When all is said and done, and in many cases more is said than done, the bottom line is these distractions, ill wills and contentions were things you allowed in; unhealthy decisions based on personal gain rather than what is best for the body of Christ. The mindset of the world is to climb the corporate ladder to get to the top no matter who one has to step over, which is the opposite of what the word of God teaches us. Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (KJV) Are we really as concerned about the things of others as we are for ourselves? The Bible speaks of the first being last and the last first; in other words when we put ourselves first, we end up last on the list, out of order so to speak. So why all the fussing and fighting? If you don’t like the person you see in the mirror, you have a choice to do something about it. But blaming others or being envious of what someone else has is not going to get you where you need to be in your walk. James 1:13-15 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (KJV) And by the way, don’t blame God for your own situation. You have a choice each and every moment of the day; you can react in the flesh, or respond in the Spirit. The words that we speak are either Spirit and life or just the opposite; as the tongue is described at times as, unruly evil full of deadly poison. 1 Corinthians 3:1-5 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (3) For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (4) For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? (5) Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? (KJV) Even in the church, somehow someway, mankind decided serving the Lord was going to turn into a contest. Wasn’t the whole idea of the church in the first place to build up the people, not man’s personal shrines, in many cases worshipping the creation more than the Creator? Just like when I see people that put their own names on ministries; which basically tells me whose image and likeness people are following. Brother so and so’s worldwide ministry, which I agree is their ministry and not Father’s. Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. (KJV) What kind of path are you walking this day? What things do you truly desire, the things of God or that of man? One is a path of life; the other is a path of the blind; which one will end up in a ditch spinning their wheels? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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