Category:

Clean Escape

12/14/2024

Good day. Today's video Clean Escape is on the topic of: Clean escape from the corruption that is in this world through lust and from them who live in error. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. We are now the temple of the living God, and we are clean and swept, purged from our sins and transgressions, and the worldly residue is burned up with unquenchable fire; for our God is a consuming fire. Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. God delivered us from this present evil world and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, Christ Jesus our Lord. God sent his word (Christ) into our hearts and healed us and delivered us from our destructions. We have been given a new heart and a new mind to operate in the realm of the Spirit. And if we continue in his word, the word of God, we shall know the truth and the truth shall make us free. John 17:17 Sanctify (purify) them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (KJV)

1 Peter 1:17-23 (KJV) And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. Galatians 3:16 ...And to thy seed, which is Christ. (KJV)

There are many false prophets in the world, antichrists (those who deny Christ), wolves in sheep's clothing, professing to know God but in works deny him; and they are the many who corrupt the word of God for money (the love of money is the root of all evil) or advantage. They are more focused on tithes and offerings that will sustain them, than they are for the upkeep of your spiritual temple, the temple of the living God, whom you are. And sad to say, but many are following their corrupt ways because their heart has become blinded by the god of this world, and they are no longer able to discern between good and evil because they have not taken the time to know the truth that set them free, and have become dependent on someone else to teach them instead of allowing the Holy Spirit of God to lead and guide them into all truth.

And when you, yourself, become more focused on the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and lusts of other things you rob God in tithes and offerings, not the physical matters, but the spiritual upkeep of his temple which is his residence within you. You rob God the opportunity to help you and give you the strength to overcome whatever it may be that is hindering you, or harassing you, and distracting you from continuing in the faith and enduring unto the end and receive eternal life. Yes, we are in this world, and have to deal with everyday life, but we have the grace of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ to help in time of need. He doesn't desire your money, he desires your whole heart, soul, and mind, and your time; so, take no thought for your life, and cast all of your care unto God and let him do the caring for you, and seek to please and serve him and worship him in spirit and in truth. You are clean escaped from this world through Jesus Christ, so brethren, stay clean, stay free, and don't omit spirit and truth. God bless and keep the faith.

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.

Defile Not

11/16/2018

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.

The Son - Part13

6/29/2018

Good morning. Today's video The Son - Part13 is on the topic of who the Son of God is; the body is of Christ.

Dearly loved of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, and of us; we have been baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit. We were grafted into the true vine, which is Christ, by our Father in Heaven who is the husbandman who sets every branch in the vine. You can be grafted in when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior; and you can be cutoff due to unbelief just as the natural branches were. So don’t take for granted your place in the vine and boast against the other branches.
Now as Christ is that true vine, He is the head of the body; the body of Christ of which we are all members one of another, and should have the same care one of another. God has placed each member in the body where He sees fit and it is up to each of us to find out what our place is and how to operate where He has placed us to the edification of the rest of the body.

Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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 fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (KJV)

Now that doesn’t mean that when God placed us in the body in the beginning that, that is where He would have us to remain. As we grow up into Christ, and remain faithful in all our house (spirit, soul, and body) He may move us to another part of the body to fill up that which may be lacking so that the body can remain fitly joined together, compacted by that which every joint supplies, as working effectually in the measure of faith, that the body may increase (that He may increase, and we, our old nature may decrease) unto the edifying of itself in love. The more we allow Christ to remain our Head, the more the body becomes likeminded; serving one another in love; and to love is to lay down our lives for the body (dying to self).

1 John 3:16-18 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (KJV)

The rest of our time on this earth, abiding in Christ in the Spirit, is no longer about us, but about the Head, Christ, and His body of believers. Do you want to be an effective member of the body? Then begin with getting to know who your Head is; take up your cross, crucifying your old nature, and follow Him growing in grace and in the knowledge of who He is and where He would have you to operate each day in the body to the edification of the body. That when He presents His Church, His body, unto God you will be a part of it, Holy and un-blamable in God’s sight. Our ministry is of Christ, as the body is of Christ.

Remember, a body without a head is dead; and so will we be if we do not keep Christ as the Head of our body remaining grafted in the true vine; we will be as the branches cut off and cast forth unto men and burned. God bless and remain in the body which is of Christ.

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.

Temple

10/30/2016

Good morning. This week's video Temple, is on the topic of the temple of God, which you are. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry.

Have a blessed and prosperous week in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Birds And The Bees

12/30/2015

Williams New Testament translation for 2Timothy 2:15-19
15. Do your best to present yourself to God an approved workman who has nothing to be ashamed of, who properly presents the message of truth. 16. Continue shunning worldly, futile phrases, for they lead on to greater depths of godlessness, 17. and their message will spread like a cancer; men like Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18. who have missed the truth by saying that the resurrection has already taken place, are undermining some people's faith. 19. But God's foundation stands unshaken, with these inscriptions: "The Lord knows the people who belong to Him, "Everyone who bears the name of the Lord must abstain from evil."

You know, when you became a child of God and embraced His message of love, it is at that point that we need to let go and discard things that lead to death, similar to a cancer spreading in the body. The reason many of these spiritual cancers spread is because someone chose to try and justify their lower fallen nature by twisting the word of God to fit their lifestyle rather than seeking to be justified in the eyes of the Lord. Remember that talk your parents had with you concerning the birds and the bees, and the one you need to have with your children concerning reproduction, what is and what is not approved by our Lord? Well it seems many who profess to be Christian or Christ like, naming His name, have not departed from iniquity but rather embrace it and find ways to justify their lack of diligence in the Word and self control of their temple. In other words a phrase that comes to mind, do as I say and not as I do.

1Thessalonians 5:22-23 Abstain from all appearance of evil. (23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)

You know, it’s amazing how many people in the so called church realm, those that name and claim they are Christians, throw caution to the wind when it comes to relationships between a man and a woman. Rather than take the time to know that the person they are involved with is one they would marry, so many have the mindset that it is ok to shack up, live together outside of marriage. Times may have changed and the mindset of waiting till one is married to consummate this union seems so old fashioned, but let me tell you something that is much older in fashion, that is, living outside the realm which God blesses, sin, being under the curse. If you truly loved this person the way our Lord loves His church then you would respect that person enough to remain sanctified, spirit, soul, and last but not least folks, body as well. You wonder why there is a lack of trust in your relationship people, maybe the fact that the person you are involved with was so willing, and yes even easy with the body before the marriage; it makes you wonder what is going to be so faithful afterward doesn’t it? How about you guys, you know the one that is supposed to be the head of the woman, how much of Christ did you demonstrate and hold fast to beforehand, or did you cave in and give up without a fight? Oh but we’re just living together, God knows our heart. Yes He does, but what about others that are watching you now that you claim to be a Christian, especially when we should not even have the appearance of evil?

1 Corinthians 6:13-15 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. (14) And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. (15) Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. (KJV)

You know, some day you are going to have to stand before God and give an account of what you did with His temple, which you just happen to be. The devil made me do it, or everyone else was doing it, won’t get you into His kingdom, but rather it will get you an eternity of separation from God because you were willing to sell your soul for a feeling. Not to mention the other person involved that you led astray also; you know the warning we were given about a millstone being tied around the neck and cast into the sea? Oh it sounds so old fashioned to many out there in the world, but all one has to do is take a look around and see how backwards things have gotten because many choose to please their flesh more than a God in heaven.

1 Corinthians 6:16-20 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. (17) But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (18) Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. (19) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (KJV)

You may think a harlot is somebody standing on the corner looking for customers, but I got news for you, that nice so called Christian guy or gal that engages in sexual immorality, in other words anything outside of marriage, is considered a harlot as well. So guess what that makes you if you willingly partake in these practices?

1 Corinthians 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. (KJV)

Whether it is a brother or sister in the Lord, if you are the one that has wounded and enticed them into sin, especially an area where they may be weak in, you are in essence sinning personally against Christ Himself. So before you decide to be so hap hazard in your decisions and throw caution up with the winds of doctrine that seem to be blowing through the Church amongst God’s own people, it’s time you re-realize the facts of life concerning how to posses your vessel in sanctification and honor.

Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (KJV)

In conclusion, if that person really loved you the way you, a child of God should be loved, then that person would be spending more time building you up in God’s word and not tearing you down in the world and its ways. Christian man or woman, if that person you are thinking about isn’t willing to wait and respect you before there is a marriage or even talk of one, then there would be no reason to think they would afterward either. If that so called Christian person thinks shacking up or taking a test drive before the marriage is fine then that should be warning enough for you to kick him or her to the curb. You want the blessing of God in the relationship or anything else that you do, then it’s His way or the highway, a not so highway that leads to a dead end. Remember that talk we were given when we were children about the birds and the bees, well it seems like there are a lot of childish people who call themselves Christians who need to be taught again some of the basic principles concerning their walk with Christ and the fact that He doesn’t change with the times.

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A Pure Heart

11/18/2015

Matthew 21:12-14 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, (13) And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (14) And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. (KJV)

When you see the term ‘temple of God’ you should now be thinking about yourself; replacing the thoughts and ideas of buildings and religious organizations with the fact that you are the temple that God now occupies and wishes to work in and through. Once our Lord came into your life and basically turned your way of thinking upside down, what was once a house occupied with carnal thinking is now a communication center, a house of prayer between God and you, the believer. God sent His word and healed us so that we could be delivered from our destructions, letting His truth provide the freedom and way of escape. Now that the healing has taken place, including as we see in verse 14 bringing sight to the blind, it is vital that we allow the Lord to have His way so that we can continue to keep His house in order.

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (KJV)

Blessed are (not was or going to be, but right now this day blessed), those that are pure in heart; not losing sight of the victory we have in Christ but continuing in the faith hearing the message delivered by Christ and no longer walking according to the carnal senses. Without a vision the people perish. Without a pure heart being motivated by a love for God you will not be able to see God and His plan of salvation He has for you personally; but rather like with the blind, you will end up following what others are telling you. The Lord has removed the impurities in your life; things that were unhealthy to your walk have been cast out, like with cataract surgery, it improves the vision. It is up to you to hear the pure word of God for yourself; no longer relying on second hand versions or in many cases perversions, but exercising your spiritual senses, like a water filter, to keep yourself healthy. If you drew a glass of water and it was dirty and tainted, let alone the fact that it smelled awful, you wouldn’t drink it would you? Thus the reason why we have these senses; our physical ones, to keep our carnal bodies healthy; and spiritual senses to keep the spiritual one healthy and in order. Are you as diligent with your spiritual senses as you are with the physical? Knowing that the spiritual is so much greater than the physical do you honestly give more attention to the outward man or the inward one? How good is your vision today; is there division, blurriness, and double vision caused by being double minded and unstable?

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (KJV)

Thayer’s definition for ‘pure’:
53 hagnos-
1) exciting reverence, venerable, sacred
2) pure
      a) pure from carnality, chaste, modest
      b) pure from every fault, immaculate
      c) clean

I found this definition for pure rather interesting; definition ‘a’, referring to the fact that it is free from carnality. Our Lord is very specific in the book of John to point out that it is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh profits nothing; the words our Lord speaks are Spirit and they are life, free from any impurities or additives of mankind. Just as mankind has polluted its waters over the years which has resulted in unhealthy often times unseen small impurities, mankind has tainted and added their own versions to the word of God to fit their own fallen lifestyles rather than rising up and walking in the realm of the Spirit. But many times also it is just a matter of lazy complacent Christians who are described as the blind followers of the blind, whose spiritual senses are dull and what could be referred to as stupid to the things of their eternal life. Are you able today to confidently, boldly, know that you are walking the path of life our Lord intended for you, or are you blindly following the leading of others because your eyes have gotten heavy and you are sleepwalking?

Matthew 13:13-16 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. (14) And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: (15) For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (16) But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. (KJV)

How is one able to see, but yet not see, how does that work? Have you ever heard the term ‘turning a deaf ear’, or how about looking the other way? Many read the scriptures but don’t see the spiritual meaning of them; they can hear what is being said but not know the meaning of it.

Thayer’s definition for ‘gross’:
3975 pachuno-
1) to make thick, to make fat, to fatten
2) metaphorically, to make stupid (to render the soul dull or callous)

Talk about grossing someone out! It is people who profess to know God but have closed their eyes and ears to the truth, that being their spiritual ones. People that should know the truth and grow stronger in the Lord and the power of His might are blindly walking around like a bunch of drunks in the middle of the night. He that has ears to hear, let them hear; blessed are your eyes because you have allowed the Lord to open the eyes of your understanding so that you could walk in the realm of the Spirit and do those things that are pleasing in His sight, which by the way His sight is spiritual, looking to the inward. Have you got your ears on good buddy, that is how one is asked when being called for on a CB radio; and only those that have their eyes and ears open to the spiritual realm will be able to see God and the meaning of His word, while all others will be in a ditch spinning their wheels.

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.

House Cleaning

11/17/2015

Mark 11:15-17 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; (16) And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. (17) And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. (KJV)

What kind of shape is your house in today, you know that house you invited our Lord to come in to and dwell in? Are you in dire need of some housecleaning because your priorities are backwards? A place you invited our Lord into is now overcrowded with thieves because what you claimed was His is now being occupied with someone stealing rather than giving life to your house, a house you told the Lord He could occupy. Once you have given your life to the Lord and He turns your way of thinking upside down and overthrows the influence the enemy had on you it is important that you stay alert and on guard, letting the peace of God guard or keep your heart so that nothing unhealthy enters back into your temple, which is now the temple of our Lord. Instead of letting your house be a communication center, one where the Lord communicates His message to you personally and then you are able to deliver it in the way He intended (which is what prayer means), you have made it a den of thieves, robbing you of the opportunity to hear the message being delivered by Christ. We have many today that have been called by God and let Him into their temples for a season only to allow the devil to set up shop again and rob them of the truth, the truth that sets and keeps them free.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (KJV)

Now when we look at these scriptures we need to see the spiritual meaning of them, knowing that we are not fighting a carnal battle. Similar to watching many of these TV ministries where their focus is clearly set on the root of all evil, that being their love of money and not a love for the Lord or His people. So what we see that has transpired in the outward was a direct result of what has taken place in the inward part of their heart. We see clearly how the Lord set an example of how His temple is to be kept in order and clean, by casting down those things that exalt and try to rise above the knowledge of God, making carnal things seem to be more important than spiritual things. Once your temple has been taken over and occupied by our Lord and put in order it is vital that you are alert, casting down and overthrowing any imagination that is contrary to what our Lord intended, bringing every thought to the obedience of Christ. Just like with people that are overweight, it’s not like they went to bed fit and trim one night, and then woke up the next morning out of shape, but rather little by little ever so slightly things were added on because one was not watching their intake. When one does get their temple in order and wishes to maintain it, then it takes a steady diet as well as exercise to keep your spiritual senses exercised so that you can tell the difference between good and evil, things that are healthy and things that are junk food.

2 Corinthians 10:6
[When your obedience is fulfilled] Doddridge renders this: "now your obedience is fulfilled, and the sounder part of your church restored to due order and submission." The idea seems to be, that Paul was ready to inflict discipline when the church had showed a readiness to obey his laws, and to do its own duty-- delicately intimating that the reason why it was not done was the lack of entire promptness in the church itself, and that it could not be done on any offender as long as the church itself was not prepared to sustain him. The church was to discountenance the enemies of the Redeemer; to show an entire readiness to sustain the apostle, and to unite with him in the effort to maintain the discipline of Christ's house. (from Barnes' Notes)

The Lord is in a readiness to show you the way of escape from this present evil world, when you are willing to do it His way. How long will you halt between two opinions, or in others words how long will you be double minded; instead of letting go of the tables and all the junk you are trying to peddle as being the Lord’s you still hang onto your own thoughts and ideas of how His church should be run. The Lord is ready to move you forward in your walk so that you can grow up and mature in the things of Christ once you are willing to let go of your childish carnal ways, things that man says is highly esteemed yet in reality is an abomination in our Lord’s sight. So who is truly in charge of your house today; is it our Lord, or have you invited a thief back in with seven other colleagues of his that are more wicked and nasty, making you worse off than you were in the beginning? Are you willing to allow the Lord to bring the correction to your life so that you can continue in the faith, or are you still holding back and letting the thief set up shop again, robbing you of the spiritual blessings the Lord has for His people?

Hebrews 12:7-11 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (8) But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (10) For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. (11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (KJV)

You know, the Lord doesn’t chasten us or bring the correction because He hates us; rather it is so that we can make the proper adjustment in our walk, and that we can continue partaking of the peaceable fruit of the Spirit. So if the Lord is doing some house cleaning in your life, instead of looking at what you are being asked to let go of or discard, look forward to what it is being replaced with, a deeper love and commitment with Him. So today, if the Lord is overturning and changing something in your walk it is so that you don’t end up shortchanged in the things of the Spirit which allows you to receive your full reward, of which God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Many Called Few Ch0sen

6/8/2015

2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. (KJV)

Thayer’s definition for ‘which corrupt’:
2585 kapeleuo-
1) to be a retailer, to peddle
2) to make money by selling anything
a) to get sordid gain by dealing in anything, to do a thing for base gain
b) to "trade" (traffic) in the word of God; to try to get base gain by teaching divine truth
c) to corrupt, to adulterate; peddlers were in the habit of adulterating their commodities for the sake of gain

So if many have been called then why are there so few left to deliver God’s message of love? Could it be there is a different love and affection that has snuck in and taken over, a method that isn’t approved of God but a big hit with mankind? Even in the time of Paul’s ministry we see the word of God corrupted and peddled to the highest bidder; those that were called of God are now answering to mankind and catering to the highest bidders. As we see in the above verses it just wasn’t a few doing this stuff but many had sold out and allowed a breach in the Spirit, a spiritual virus that was infecting the early Church; and quite frankly as I look around today, has only gotten worse.

Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (KJV)

When looking at these verses one can see two points being made and the comparison being implied, like a parable. As moth and rust corrupt the physical riches over time, by getting caught up in this doctrine one has allowed the thief to break through spiritually and steal the truth, replacing it with heartache and misery. As rust can eat away and distort riches, so does the love for them eat away and distort our vision of what will truly bring peace and joy to the believer. So where your treasure is will determine the direction of the heart and its true intentions will be manifest.

Matthew 6:22-24 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. (23) But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! (24) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (KJV)

If your vision is not kept single, seeking only the things of God that will bring joy and peace, as well as a confidence and boldness to speak His word, then one will be walking in darkness; and what many have thought would bring them the answer ends up to be a dead end. The word of God is quite specific that no man can serve two masters because a double minded man is unstable and unable to receive the things of God or be entrusted with the truth to be used of Him. Remember it is the love of money, not money itself that is the root of all evil; and those that look to the things of this realm to find joy and peace will find that they have erred from the faith and are now drowning in destruction and despair.

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)

Since when did the temple of God become a place of trade? The Lord set the example and quite emphatically let the people know where God stood on this doctrine of making merchandise of His word. And yet today as I look around, or flip through the religious channels, it is quite apparent that mankind has decided to set the tables back up with their endless money pitches and gimmicks. Folks if it didn’t work back then why would one think that God approves of this nonsense today? Remember that you are the temple of the living God and He dwells within you. So what is your true love today, and what is it you truly treasure in your life? Just because mankind decides that it’s okay, and just because someone has a big TV following doesn’t make it right; and according to the word of God it is not something our Father approves of either.

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)

Oops, remember the many that were called? Well now we are seeing what happened to their calling and how they chose to respond. When I see the word feigned which means to fabricate, I think of all these phony hundredfold return doctrines that are promised to people that donate to these ministries preaching them; which in simple layman’s terms is nothing more than a pyramid scheme, where those on top get rich, and well we all know what runs downhill. Just because others have sold out and set up their tables in the temple doesn’t mean you have to fall for their guilt trips and pity party sermons of how much more they could do if they only had the loot, when they should be answering God’s call and teaching the people what God has already done on their behalf.

Titus 1:9-11 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (10) For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: (11) Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. (KJV)

You know folks, you can’t buy your way into the kingdom but you can sell out. What is it going to profit you if you gain the whole world but lose your soul for an eternity? Many that have been called of God may have begun in the Spirit with good intentions, but tried to perfect it in the flesh by supposing gain was godliness, which the Bible says we should withdraw from, which includes our support. So put away your TV remote control and grab your Bible; start partaking of the true riches of the kingdom of God and don’t be taken in by these cheap hucksters who promise liberty but they themselves are the servants of corruption.

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Polar Opposites

12/16/2013

John 12:24-26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. 25 He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. (KJV)

A life in the realm of the Spirit is polar opposite of the flesh and its limited understanding. The realm of the Spirit is the only one where you will find peace and contentment, while anything else will leave you empty and frustrated. The problem with many who are called of God today is that they begin with a zeal in this new life they found in Christ, but then get derailed when they turn back to the flesh thinking something from that realm could make their lives perfect. It’s like going to a buffet and just having dessert. This is what separates those that will endure to the end, and those that just end their walk with the Lord even though they put up a religious front. It’s not until you die to self that you will find your life, which is in the body of Christ and the place He chose for you to operate in before the foundation of the world.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. 19 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (KJV)

Today many think that marriage is outdated and something they will get around to when one or the other person threatens to walk away without a commitment. Today we have many who claim “my body, my choice”. Well half of that statement is true because it is your choice, however, in the end they will find out that this temple we are housing the Spirit in belongs to God and not man. Now you may think that this is a no brainer, that everyone in the church today knows that they need to marry before pretending they are, but you would be quite amazed at how many who call themselves Christians, are nothing but cheap harlots when it comes time to maintaining the temple in a godly way.

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 Examine yourselves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. (KJV)

If you have ever gone to an open house looking for a place to purchase, you find that they are staged and well kept, fit for human habitation. If you walked in there and found a foul smell or a place that looked like a pig pen, you would not want to take up residence there. Well think about what kind of temple you are providing for our Lord, and is it a place He is at home in?

2 Corinthians 5:10-11 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it is good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. (KJV)

Many Christians get sucker punched with doctrines that appeal more to the carnal man than the spiritual one. The world says more is better and they live in excess, while God talks about contentment. Oh and keeping the temple fit and ready for the masters use is something he will require come the Day of Judgment. You can stand in all the prayer lines you want seeking help for your ailments when many times the Lord would like to see you living a healthier life by getting out of the fast food lanes that caused the problem in the first place.

Dearly loved, let’s not be as the many who corrupt the word of God, but be as the few holding forth the Word in all sincerity and truth being an example of the believers in all manner of our life. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 John 9