Homophobia, really?

Waking up this morning was a delight! I know my Redeemer Lives! Since I gave my life to the Only Savior Jesus Christ, life has been tough but very rewarding. The only and greatest thing I have ever experienced is seeing my sins Washed away in the Divine Blood of Jesus shed on the Cross! As I drank my coffee this morning I was reading an article written by a Christian concerning homosexuality. He was debating and lamenting over the so called scientific evidence that homosexuals are born that way. I desire not to rant and rave about whether homosexuality is a sin or not, because that is a non issue with God! He says that it is a sexual sin, Period! What I do desire is to make a few comments that hopefully will clarify, for any Christian who reads this post, will agree with God. It matters not at all if you agree or disagree with me on any issue that God's Word clearly tackles. A preacher friend of mine read the article about the scientific evidence that homosexuals are born that way and was somewhat perplexed stating; “if they are born homosexual then they are not responsible and we as preachers cannot address this issue because they cannot help themselves.” My jaw about hit the floor! After a few moments lamenting his ignorant statement I was compelled by the Holy Spirit to rebuke Him with the Truth in Love! Romans 3:20 “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. 21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” We are all born sinful and are in need of Redemption regardless of scientific evidence! Homosexuality is a sin, just as lying, cheating, stealing, idolatry, hatred, unforgiving, drunkenness and coveting. We must understand as Christians that homosexuals are born sinful just as you and I are born sinful. We all Must repent of sin and be Born again in Christ! There is an argument about whether homosexual is a choice. Well, hello! We all have a choice! Continue to live in sin and refuse New Birth in Christ and go to Hell or choose repentance and be Born Again! Many people try to justify their behavior by pointing to other behavior. Sin is Sin regardless! Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 1John 3:8 “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” So the Truth is we Christians must Preach and Teach there is a New Life in Christ through Repentance and Rebirth! We Christians must not be homophobic or bashing them with Bible verses, for they cannot understand the Truth until they are Born again. We must Point them to Jesus! Show them how Jesus has changed your life! Show them they can also receive forgiveness. Tell them the Truth in Love. Tell them they Must be Born Again!

Devil's Beatitudes!

Most Christians are very familiar with the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount concerning Christian Character, known as the Beatitudes. It has been several years now since I read the Devils imitation and mockery of the Inspired Words of Jesus. If the devil were to write his beatitudes, they would probably go something like this:

1. Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to
spend an hour once a week with their fellow Christians --
they are my best workers.

2. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expected to
be thanked -- I can use them.

3. Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church --
they are my missionaries.

4 Blessed are the trouble makers -- they shall be called my children.

5. Blessed are the complainers -- I'm all ears to them.

6. Blessed are those who are bored with the minister's mannerisms and
mistakes -- for they get nothing out of his sermons.

7. Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own
church -- for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.

8. Blessed are those who gossip --
for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.

9. Blessed are those who are easily offended --
for they will soon get angry and quit.

10. Blessed are those who do not give their offering to carry on
God's work -- for they are my helpers.

11. Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and
sister -- for he shall be with me forever.

12. Blessed are you who, when you read this, think it is about other
people and not yourself -- I've got you too!

Did these get you thinking? So are you a counterfeit Christian or one who serves Christ and His Kingdom? I am not sure about too many things in life but this I am absolutely certain; you cannot serve a Holy God and the Devil at the same time. So many Christians, who may not be Christian at all, live their lives with one foot in Heaven and one foot in Hell! That is to say, they love Jesus and obey Jesus only when it serves their flesh. I am reminded of what Jesus said concerning this issue; Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
The Devil wants to destroy your soul and keep you from giving Praise and Glory to your Creator Jesus Christ, whereas, Jesus wants to Bless you and Save you from destruction! Your choice. Cry out in repentance and receive Jesus as your Master and Lord! If not, the Devil already has you!

Ascension of Christ!

There seems to be some confusion in the minds of millions, if not billions, about who Jesus Christ is and what He has done. Many have tried to articulate the Life and Works of Jesus Christ in hopes of dispelling misconceptions about His Character. I am not qualified, nor claim to be, a Theologian. I would however like to talk briefly about my Savior’s Ascension. The Ascension is when Jesus rose to the right hand of His Father in Heaven. Here is one Biblical account; Acts 1:9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." 1. Why did Jesus go up there? 2. Does His Ascension point to His second Coming? 3. Why is this important to Christian doctrine? These questions shall be briefly answered. The Bible best answers the questions. 1). Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Ok, so the Old Testament prophet said He would bare the sins of many and will make intercession for them or on their behalf. Wow what a Truth that is, that the Son of God not only took my sins upon Himself and paid the penalty, but now He is praying for the repentant sinner. The New Testament also says this; Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-- more than that, who was raised to life-- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 2). The Bible also says in the text of the Ascension that our Lord will Return the same way He went up. Daniel 7:13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. We did not see His Ascension but we will see Him descending! Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 24:30. “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.” Also in Revelation 1:7 “ Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.” He went up and is Coming back down. Are you ready? 3). This teaching is important to Christianity because of the Great Work Jesus did for you and me. We need to point people to the Jesus who Died on a Roman Cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, He was Resurrected from the dead and He Ascended and is Coming back soon! We dare not forget His Ascension which points to His Coming! There are millions and billions on this planet that need to hear this message. The Blood of Jesus has no power to save unless the sinner repents and turns to His Mighty Works! Jesus is Coming soon, turn to Him now if you have not done so already.

How Great is our God?

As I ponder today about the Greatness of our God and Father, I am reminded from the weeping Prophet Jeremiah of God’s Great Faithfulness. Jeremiah Laments over his people and comes to this conclusion in chapter 3 of Lamentations; 3:19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21 ¶ This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” I am convinced that everything in my life that is bad is do to my lack of devotion to the Lord and everything in my life that is good comes from Him who died for my iniquities, Jesus Christ! I have a problem with self- imposed misery. To explain my misery, it is best to go to the affliction of the Apostle Paul. Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-- this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” I have the desire to pray but I put it off. I want to walk obediently before my God always but I find myself coming short of that mark. My soul gets downcast within me and I find myself broken before Him. Alas, it hits me! THAT’S where He wants me to be!! Lamenting my sins and humbly coming to Him for Cleansing and strength! Paul buts his conclusion this way. Romans 7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God-- through Jesus Christ our Lord! May everyone who finds this devotion find themselves lamenting and humbling themselves before the Lord Christ! For Jesus understands our afflictions and He understands humility. Isa 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isa 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” O my Jesus, my Rock and my Redeemer! Isa 53:10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Jesus understands our needs and will meet our needs, according to His Riches in Glory, if we would simple humble ourselves, repent and lament our sins! Come to Jesus, He will not forsake you or leave you! He will Save you from yourself!!

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT MASTURBATION?

"What does the Bible say about masturbation?" is one of our most frequently asked questions. Many Christians have found it difficult to answer this question according to the Bible, because the Bible never mentions masturbation specifically. To understand how God feels about this subject, we must examine other verses that deal with issues such as lust, self-control and purity. Also, we must examine its fruit to see if it is from God. We have tried to address this issue by answering some of the most frequently asked questions. Our prayer is that God will use this page to bring freedom and deliverance.
"Does God care about what we do in the privacy of our bedrooms?"
Sex is God's invention. He is the mastermind behind it—and His creation is worth far more to Him than it is to us. This beautiful expression of love was created out of His own heart, as a gift to be experienced between a husband and wife. It is only in marriage that this manifestation of intimacy can be fully enjoyed in the depth for which it was created.
"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and the sexually immoral" (Hebrews 13:4, NIV).
"Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4, KJV).
The more beautiful and unique something is (like sexual intercourse), the more power it holds over our lives, either for good or bad influence. That is why it is so easy for the devil to corrupt the most precious of God's gifts. When we become more in love with the gifts than the One who endowed them, the things that were designed to bless us begin to destroy us instead. Yes, God cares about what we do with our bodies, in public or in private. He doesn't want us to abuse ourselves in any way.

In fact, an older definition of masturbation is "self-abuse." Although more modern dictionaries may no longer carry this definition, they are still linked together under self-abuse:
Self-abuse noun¹
1. Abuse of oneself or one's abilities.
2. Masturbation.
1 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV) further confirms this, saying that unlawful sexual relations defile our own bodies. "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."
"Isn't it still better to masturbate than to commit fornication?"
The easy answer to this question would be, "Yes, it is better to masturbate, because at best it corrupts only one person. It certainly is the lesser of two evils." However, why would a loving, holy, all-powerful God abandon you to a situation in which you have to choose any evil, whether it be "lesser" or "greater?" To really answer this question, we must again go back to God's original plan for sex.
First of all, masturbation will not truly relieve the sexual pressure that one may feel. It may for a short moment, but in the long run it only creates a deeper desire and capacity for sex, which will lead to more masturbation. If you let yourself become enslaved to a sexual high, you will find that you need to go to increasingly extreme acts to maintain the same degree of excitement. There are even ungodly sex therapists who recommend masturbation as a way of increasing sexual desire, not lessening it. This creates a vicious circle, like the junkie who craves a "fix," but is only temporarily satisfied. The more he indulges in his dependency, the more ensnared by addiction he becomes. This is the nature of all sin. That is why Jesus declared that all who sin become a slave to sin (John 8:34).
Furthermore, masturbation usually involves fantasy, visualization, and often pornography. The Bible is very clear as to what God expects of us in these areas of fantasy and lust. It teaches that we must not look lustfully at each other nor should we behave in such a manner as to entice others to lust after us.
"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a girl. I know full well that the Almighty God sends calamity on those who do" (Job 31:1-3, The Living Bible).
"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).

While the above verses refer to men lusting after women, all women know that it can very easily be reversed to apply to themselves as well. Men may be more easily visually stimulated than women, but women can be just as vulnerable to sexual fantasy in the emotional realm. Both are sin in God's eyes, and both can be brought into subjection by controlling our thoughts through Christ's power.
All sexual immorality begins with a thought. A lustful thought not taken captive, will eventually lead to other perversions, because sin reproduces itself in increasingly greater measures. If we do not deal with our evil thoughts, they will take root in our hearts.
It is for this reason that God is so concerned with our thought life. Jesus came not only to deliver us from our "outward" sins, but also from wickedness that begins in the heart.
"Isn't God unreasonable to demand sexual purity after giving us sexual drives that seem to overwhelm us at times?"
Our loving God never demands from us what is impossible for us to do. We are so weak within ourselves that it may seem impossible, but He will equip us with His holy power to overcome any sin, if we ask in faith.
Of course, sexual urges in and of themselves are not wicked. They are natural. God created us that way. He desires that we get optimum pleasure out of them by using them the way they were created to be used. However, many desires for physical gratification (whether it be food, sex, etc.) stem from a deeper need that is unfilled deep inside us. Gorging our flesh can never fill a hunger that grows out of our spirit. Only intimacy with God can fill the deepest needs inside of us. No other created thing has that power.
God is no more unreasonable than any caring parent who lovingly disciplines their child. It is only because He knows what is best for us. He sees a mighty potential in each one of us that far supersedes our wildest dreams, and He loves us enough to do all He can to bring it to pass.
"I agree with all the theory, but living it out on a day to day level is another story."
This is the place where we need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. The Holy Spirit is not a vague "force," but the very power of God to comfort you and strengthen you against the sins that used to rule you before you were born again. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the very ability that Jesus had to resist temptation. He depended completely upon the Father and so must we.

Something you must know is that God is not the one who is tempting you in this area to "test" you. God is on your side and wants to set you free from these things, not lead you into them! "When tempted, no one should say "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed" (James 1:13-14).
God wants us to overcome every sin and temptation in our lives. Please slowly read the following verses and let their message seep deep inside your spirit.
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
"For though we live in the world we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
"In the same way count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master for you are not under law but under grace" (Romans 6:11-14).
"For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16, King James Version).
"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).
"Can I really be set free?"
"In (this) freedom, Christ has made us free—completely liberated us; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery—which you have once put off " (Galatians 5:1 Amp).
If you are in a real struggle with any form of sexual sin, we do not believe it was by accident that God led you to this teaching. He wants to set you free, starting right now! We would like to share several things that you can do to break loose from this stronghold:
1. Confess this sin first to God, then go to a committed Christian you trust, such as your pastor. Ask God to lead you to someone that you can be accountable with, who will be faithful to pray with you and for you. This will take humility on your part, but it will lead to life. James 5:16 says: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (You may not feel "righteous" but if you have admitted your sin to God and received His forgiveness, you are! That means your prayers are powerful and effective!)
2. Flee from and reject anything that aggravates this sin. For example, you may need to get off the Internet for a season or purchase software that blocks out pornography. This may sound too drastic, but it certainly is mild compared to Jesus who said, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to go into Hell" (Matthew 5:30). His point was that we must be willing to part with anything that causes us to sin—even if it hurts temporarily.
3. You may need to seek healing and deliverance from qualified Christians who are anointed in this area of ministry. If you have been deeply involved in sexual sins, the devil probably has a stronghold in that area of your life. If you can, find some people who can help you stand against the devil, for he is the one who seeks to lead you into temptation, and whispers lies of hopelessness and shame into your ears. If he drops a filthy thought into your mind just when you are trying to pray (he has used this tactic on even the holiest saints of God), tell him to leave in the name of Jesus! Recognize his voice for what it is, and submit yourself to God. As you do this and resist the devil, he will flee from you! He is deathly afraid of those who are submitted to God in brokenness and humility.
4. Don't give up! Deliverance might take time. Self-control takes effort. You may slip occasionally—or even a lot. But remember that God loves you and He will be faithful to perfect His character in you as long you keep submitting to Him. Eventually you will win—and not because of your best efforts, but because of God's mercy (Titus 3:5). Just as salvation is received in faith, so deliverance must be received in faith. This has nothing to do with our character, strength, or failings. The only thing it is dependant upon is you receiving it in humility. If you should fail, recognize it quickly, ask God to forgive you—and then receive His forgiveness! He is faithful to do that which He promised, not just in a select few mighty men and women of God, but in all who are willing to come humbly before Him. That includes you! We want to encourage you to hold on to this scripture as your anchor:
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
If there is anything else we can do to help you, please let us know. In closing, we would like to pray for you:
"Father, we thank you for bringing this person into our website. We know that it was your Holy Spirit that led them here and we thank you for your faithfulness to them! We lift them up to you now and ask that You fill them with a desire for You that transcends every other desire they have ever known. Let them know your cleansing love and power. We thank you that he whom the Son has set free, is free indeed. We speak this freedom into the life of this one whom the devil has bound in shame. We speak healing and deliverance and we break every tie that has kept them under a spirit of addiction and perversion. We stand against the Evil One and his every plan to bring destruction in this one's life. Father, in faith, and by the power and authority You have given us, we declare that this one is FREE in the name of Jesus! We commit them to Your care and we loose Your Holy Spirit to minister to them at this very instant. We ask these things in the precious name of Your son, Jesus Christ."

5 Questions to ask cult members!

1). How are you saved? Believers are saved by Grace through faith in the work of Jesus Christ. Death burial and Resurrection! Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 1Co 15:2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. Galatians 1:7-8Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

2). Who is Jesus? Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Col 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 100%man 100%God He is the Only begotten Son. Second person of the Godhead! John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

3). What is the Way to Heaven? John 14:5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Ac 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. Jude 1:24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--
25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

4). Do you know what God says concerning His Word? Pr 30:5 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. 2Pe 1:20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation.
21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Re 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

5). What happens when you die? Re 20:15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Heb 9:27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Mt 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

Are you a Notional Christian?

What a day to be alive and walking in the steps of Jesus! As I ponder about the life and teaching of Jesus, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a prophecy Jesus spoke concerning His Return. Matthew 24:10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Unless you are a notional Christian, that means you follow Christ when you take a notion, this Scripture is accurate and hits the heart of the current Church deception! The church is now so worldly and drunk from its own maddening immorality there is no limit to its folly! The Apostle Paul understood what Jesus said concerning the church in the Last days. 2Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” The notional Christian is no Christian at all. They are in love with the concept of Christianity but deny the Power of the Resurrected Christ! So many are so involved with world they only speak of Jesus when they think it is fashionable. True Christians are only concerned about Godliness and living a Holy life for the Glory of Jesus, without caring what others think of their love for the One who died for them and Rose from the dead! Jesus has called us out of this world to be Holy as He is Holy and to Love one another as He Loved us! Not so the worldlings. 2Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” Listen to this quote; "The church today is halted between two opinions. They do not know whether they want to serve the God who sent His Son to save them from their sins, or whether they want to pursue the idolatry and vain manner of living that is typical of American society today. What the Spirit wants to impress upon you this hour is that what passes for Christianity in the churches today is unacceptable to Him." ~Joseph Herrin Remember the beginning Scripture of this devotion? Jesus said “but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” How do we stand firm to the end of this wicked age? Repent of your idolatrous self and turn to Jesus! You have to come to God on His terms not yours! Turn away from your lies, hatred, lust, envy, strife, drunkenness, sexual immorality, stealing and hypocrisy. Turn to Jesus and be washed in His Blood shed on the Cross. Believe that God His Father raised Him from the dead and start fresh. Be Born again in the Spirit of God , so you can live a Holy life for which you were Created! Stop being a notional Christian and end up in Hell because you failed to know Him and Love Him. May everyone reading this be able to join me in Praising the Lord Christ. Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice! He is coming soon! Yes, He is coming soon! Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Good Thursday, not Friday!

Millions of Christians celebrate the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Good Friday and then wake early in the morning on Sunday to celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. I was stunned when I heard an Atheist say, “there are contradictions in the Bible and I can prove it.” To my amazement, he proved his point. He said, “there is no way that Jesus was Crucified on Friday and then Raised from the dead early on the first day of the week, which is Sunday. Jesus said, “Matthew 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” So, if Jesus was Crucified on Friday then there is a contradiction because that would mean Friday night, Saturday, Saturday night and then Sunday .” Here ends his argument. The Atheist was right! We Christians wonder why there is so much corruption and confusion in the Church and why so many in the world say there are problems with Christianity. The Atheist did not like my response and some of you may not either. Jesus did die on the Cross for your sins and was raise from the Dead, so repent of your sins and believe in Jesus. Just because Christians contradict themselves from time to time does not give you an excuse not to believe the Truth! The Christian Church has for generations celebrated the Crucifixion of the Passover Lamb, Jesus, on Friday when it should be celebrated on Thursday. Listen to what Jesus said and count for yourself. “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Christ was crucified for us at the third hour (9 a.m.). Darkness came over the land at the sixth hour (Noon) and lasted until the ninth hour (3 p.m.), when our Lord gave up His spirit. So here is the Truth. Thursday night, Friday, Friday night, Saturday, Saturday night then Sunday. Corruption, ignorance and deceit are manifest in the Church today. We as believers need to always study and obey God’s Word rather than trust in the traditions of the Church. The Atheist did not find contradictions in the Word of God, he found then in the people who go to Church! We must know the Truth and obey, even if doing so causes people to feel uncomfortable in their ignorance. Just because “that’s the way we have always done it” does not make it Right! What do you believe and why do you believe it is more important than just acting out your religion in ignorance. Jesus Rose from the dead early in the morning on the first day of the week (Sunday) and we now know He was Sacrificed on Thursday and not Friday. As I always tell my people “now you’ve heard the Truth, what are you going to do with that Truth? Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Father, thank you for sacrificing you only begotten Son on the Cross to Atone for our sins. Thank you for His Glorious Resurrection. Grant all who reads this the knowledge of their sins and how our sins can be Washed Away by His Blood if they would just Repent and believe! In Jesus Name, Amen

Ignorance is not Bliss!

There is an old saying that will start the thought process of this paper. “Ignorance is Bliss.” This statement has some truth, except when dealing with your Eternal destination! The Truth is simple, there is life after death and ignorance of this Truth does not change its reality. Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, came to offer Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. He did this to satisfy His Fathers Wrath concerning sinful man. Jesus is known as the Passover Lamb, holy, spotless and without defect (sin). He was offered up on the Alter of God’s Holy Throne as a sin offering. His Blood shed on the Cross satisfies His Fathers Holiness. God is offering a way for all of humanity to have their sins Washed away and declared Righteous before His Holiness if they Repent of their sins, that means turn away from your sins, and Trust what Jesus did on the Cross was payment for their sin debt! Hebrews 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! 15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-- now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” If any human feels the weight of his own sin, feels the wrath of God upon them, grieves their sins, and even cry out, “I believe in Jesus”, can still end up in the Eternal Lake of Fire, why? REPENTANCE! Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you-- even Jesus.” Without repentance there is no Salvation! Matthew 3:8 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Christ Jesus was Sacrificed for you on the Cross, so repent of your sins and believe in the Death, burial and Resurrection of Jesus! God does not except your ignorance, Master card, Visa or American express as a payment for your sin debt. Jesus is the Purpose of the Passover celebration! 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. Have a Blessed and Christ centered Holy Week!

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!!

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.

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.?