Church of Vomit!

Scripture for consideration. Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm-- neither hot nor cold-- I am about to spit (vomit) you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Remember the Luke-warm church did not realize they were about to be vomited out of the mouth of Jesus because of their self centeredness, self righteousness and their lack of the True Christ centered mission of the Church. Does this sound like your church? Does your Church focus on the Person and Works of Jesus Christ? Is their always discussions about how to attract people to your Church? Christ never said He wanted His Church to be attractive, seeker friendly, comfortable, contemporary, old fashioned, people focused or modern. He gave this command for the Mission of His Church. Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Luke 24:46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. John 20:21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." Ac 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

After the Church received the Holy Spirit to empower them to fulfil His Mission, the book of Acts records the Purpose of the Church. Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Now with the clear Mission and Purpose of the Church clearly manifested by these Scriptures, ask yourself with prayer and honesty; does the Church I go to seek to obey Christ, without compromise, or does it only seem to do its own thing? If your Church is seeking obedience to Christ through its teaching and Preaching, then follow Christ through that local congregation. If not, run as fast as you can away from that church because you may find yourself vomited out of the mouth of Jesus-the Head of the Church! It does not sound good to be vomited out of Christ body, does it?

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

Lies! Lies! Lies! Are you a liar? Do you excuse lies? Do you like it when someone lies to you? Well God doesn’t like lies either! How do I know that you may ask? Simple, just listen to what He says. “Proverb 6:16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” I know that some of you reading this will say that God doesn’t hate? WRONG!!! He HATES a lying tongue and false witness who pours out lies! Notice there are two of the seven in this list that deal with lying! Again God said “Exodus 20:16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Is not God saying DON’T LIE? Yes He is! Some may say, “that’s the Old Testament and doesn’t apply to us today.” Really! Ok, let’s look at the New Testament. Matthew 15:19 Jesus said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Oops, there it is again. False testimony is lying! How about this verse; 1John 2:21 “I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist-- he denies the Father and the Son.” Still think lying is ok? You have lied to yourself if you think lying is ok as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. Liar, liar, pants on fire! Remember that saying? Well according to the Word of the Lord, more than your pants will be on fire. Listen up, Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." The human soul who continues to lie will have their soul on fire! Is this to condemn you? NO! Only to warn you if you about lying, or rather warn you of the consequences of lying. You and I have all lied at one time or another, unless you lie to yourself, then we need to do something about our lying tongue! Here is Good News. 1John 1:8 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive (lie to) ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” Lying is a sin and we need to stop! Look at how lies have destroyed some of our relationships. How about the lies from our Government? Do you like it when they lie to you? Jesus gave us a road map to lead us to the Truth, because He knows people will believe liars easier than the Truth. Here is the way out; John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Jesus died on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sins, including our lies! Turn away from lies ad turn to the Truth and you shall be Free Indeed!!

Easter verses Resurrection!

A close friend ask me a question concerning Easter events at a Church she has been attending; This is what is being planned at Church for this weekend for the children...what do you think of this...that they are having our kids participate in a Jewish tradition? For the sake of teaching them how things were done in those days, I am not offended at that, but to mix Judaism with Christianity is mind boggling to me....not sure what to think...could you clarify? Answer - I have done many studies on the subject and see nothing wrong with sharing the customs of the Hebrews as long as it is used to clarify and point to Jesus as the fulfillment! The Seder dinner is an interesting Passover celebration as long as we understand the bitterness of our bondage to sin and how Jesus become sin for us and delivered us from that bondage on the Cross! The emphasis of Passover was to show God's deliverance and He passed over the people who had the Lambs Blood on their door. We know that God doesn't Passover (cover) our sins, but washes our sins away by the Blood, Lamb of God, Jesus! If they emphasize these points, Old fulfilled by the New, very good Bible lesson. Many people smarter than myself have shared their personal convictions about Easter eggs, Resurrection cookies and Easter egg hunts. I understand the need to reach youngsters with the Gospel Message but I just cannot imagine Jesus doing such things. Many Christians participate in such events but I am not to fond of such none sense. That is my conviction. In case you do not know why I feel so strong about even using the word Easter, I want to share. Here is the only Scripture that uses the word Easter. I am placing King James and New International version together to see the difference in the translations.
Ac 12:1 ¶ Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. {stretched...: or, began} (KJV)
1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. (NIV)
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. (KJV)
2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. (NIV)
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) (KJV)
3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. (NIV)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. {Easter: Gr. Passover} {quaternions: a file of four soldiers} (KJV)
4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. (NIV)
NIV has translated the word properly from the Greek. pascha is the Greek word meaning Passover. the Passover (the meal, the day, the festival or the special sacrifices connected with it). The Hebrew origin- pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only technically of the Jewish Passover (the festival or the victim):--passover (offering). - Easter----Is improperly put for PASSOVER, Ac 12:4; Passover being the name of the ancient Jewish festival here referred to; while Easter, from the Saxon goddess Eostre, is the modern name of a Christian festival, in commemoration of the events of Passover-week, and fixed at the same period of the year. History--The name "Easter" originated with the names of an ancient Goddess and God. The Venerable Bede, (672-735 CE.) a Christian scholar, first asserted in his book De Ratione Temporum that Easter was named after Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. Similarly, the "Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility [was] known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos." 1 Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre." Similar Goddesses were known by other names in ancient cultures around the Mediterranean, and were celebrated in the springtime.
I cannot and will not ever mix the Passover and Resurrection of Jesus Christ with Paganism. Ignorance went a long way but not when God opened my eyes to this perversion! Isn't that partly what is wrong with the Church today? Mixing Sacredness with Paganism? James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. I am of the opinion that we as Christians need to obey God’s Word as written and teach our children from what He says and not use the ways of this world to illustrate what He has said so clearly in His Word! Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual {1 Or } act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” But as always you need to pray and seek God's face concerning how to teach your children. I know it is hard but Jesus always honors humility and our desire to serve Him!

7 of the most Beautiful Statements ever spoken!

The Passion and Love of Jesus Christ expressed while paying your sin debt on the Cross! Give Him Praise! He is Worthy! He is ALIVE! “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!” He poured out His Life’s Blood to cover your sins? NO! NO! NO! He poured out His Life’s Blood, To WASH our sins AWAY!

Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, — which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Luke 23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

John 19:26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,”
27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

John 19:28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Don’t Judge me!

Don’t judge me! The Bible says we are not to judge! He who is without sin cast the first stone! These statements are Lies! Yes, I said Lies! Many who call themselves Christian have and do continue to believe lies. How, you may ask, do I know this? Because the Bible does not say these things, unless you take the Bible out of context. Read the Bible in context! Here are the examples: Mt 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Jesus does say that and most Christians stop there. But now listen to the context. “Mt 7:3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Context changes everything does it not? Sure it does. The Bible judges when taken in context. Now we know we are to judge ourselves first by recognizing our own sins and shortcomings, then we can help our brother or sister with theirs. Do not judge self-righteously! Romans 2:3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Next, look at this lie. John 8:3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”
6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus did say that, right? Here is the context. John 8:8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Makes a big difference when you finish the context! Most do not like when Jesus says “leave your life of sin!” So if we call ourselves Christian we need to read the Bible in context and then obey what it truly says and not twist the words to justify ourselves! The Bible judges us. Listen to this. “Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are– yet was without sin.
16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
So the next time you find yourself or someone else speaking lies like; Don’t judge me, the Bible says we are not to judge, he who is without sin cast the first stone, we really need to deal with our walk with the Lord Jesus! Something to ponder.

Where is repentance?

Where is repentance in our sinful day! Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Do you not want peace and joy in your life? Do you not want happiness of your soul? Do you not care what happens to you when you breathe your last breath in this life? To come back to the Scripture upon which we are meditating: both forgiveness and repentance flow from the same source, and are given by the same Savior. The Lord Jesus in His glory bestows both upon the same persons. You are neither to find the remission nor the repentance elsewhere. Jesus has both ready, and He is prepared to bestow them now, and to bestow them most freely on all who will accept them at His hands. Let it never be forgotten that Jesus gives all that is needful for our salvation. It is highly important that all seekers after mercy should remember this. Faith is as much the gift of God as is the Savior upon whom that faith relies. Repentance of sin is as truly the work of grace as the making of an atonement by which sin is blotted out. Salvation, from first to last, is of grace alone. You will not misunderstand me. It is not the Holy Spirit who repents. He has never done anything for which He should repent. If He could repent, it would not meet the case; we must ourselves repent of our own sin, or we are not saved from its power. It is not the Lord Jesus Christ who repents. What should He repent of? We ourselves repent with the full consent of every faculty of our mind. The will, the affections, the emotions, all work together most heartily in the blessed act of repentance for sin; and yet at the back of all that is our personal act, there is a secret holy influence which melts the heart, gives contrition, and produces a complete change. The Spirit of God enlightens us to see what sin is, and thus makes it loathsome in our eyes. The Spirit of God also turns us toward holiness, makes us heartily to appreciate, love, and desire it, and thus gives us the impetus by which we are led onward from stage to stage of sanctification. The Spirit of God works in us to will and to do according to God’s good pleasure. To that good Spirit let us submit ourselves at once, that He may lead us to Jesus, who will freely give us the double benediction of repentance and remission, according to the riches of His grace. ?By grace are ye saved.?