Wake Up?

Its not surprising, to see that many in the 'church' have set up idols in their hearts. Look at all the preachers, evangelists, etc that encourage the flock to not worship in truth and provoke the Holy and Jealous God to anger through their idolatry, proving that , as God says, they hate Him. Oh, they love the things of the world and comfort themselves like the false teachers and prophets of old, which God calls liars, that it's okay to worship God in such a manner. After all, "in opinions, liberty..." or should I say "peace, peace'. They twist and distort the Holy Word of God and the people love to have it so, that they can run after the things dear to their heart without a pricked conscience and call it acceptable worship to the Lord! With their mouths they show much love, but their heart runs after their covetousness and idolatry. Be not deceived! God will not be mocked! You cannot serve God and mammon. You cannot eat at the Lord's table and the table of demons. He even declares that we are not to eat with anyone that calls themself a brother and yet is given to idolatry! Wake up 'church' and do the will of God! Jesus is sanctifying and cleansing His 'church' to present it without spot, wrinkle or blemish! Pure religion and undefined before God and the Father is ... to keep yourself unspotted from the world! Where is the genuine love of the truth? Alas, the 'church' has had it's ears tickled and turned itself to worship God as those that do not know Him. Do not for a minute think that God is pleased. Wake up 'church'! Be deceived no longer!

Bible Interpretation Is A Skill

Bible interpretation is a skill that requires diligent work, an understanding of the meaning of the original languages, a working knowledge of grammar and logic, a grasp of historical settings, competence in theology, and a broad understand of the whole of Scripture.

Why Are We Not Separated?

 So many that name the name of Christ forget that they are to depart from iniquity (2 Tim. 2:19; Mt. 7:21-23, etc.) Many hear the word 'holy' and either don't fully understand what it means for those our Lord has called out of the world (Jn. 15:19; 1 Jn. 2:15-17, etc.) or they have itching ears and an unconverted heart that still loves and runs after the own covetousness and idols (Ez. 14:3-4; 33:31; 2 Tim. 4:3-4). Deceiving themselves by only hearing or reading God's Word but not doing it, which shows that a true love of the Son and Father they do not have (Jam. 1:22-25; Jn. 14:21, etc,). Again, many haven't counted the cost, nor have forsaken all (Lk. 14:26-33) to wholly follow the One True Lord and Master (Jos. 14:8, 9, 14; Mk. 12:29-30). They don't seem to understand that God is jealous and our continuance in our former ways patterned after the world provoke Him to anger  (Ex. 20:5; 34:14; Dt. 4:24-25; 5:9; 6:14-15). Yet, we need to ask ourselves, how is it that we have failed? I believe that in part it's because the preachers, teachers and elders have not laid the proper foundation of discipleship to include such things, or even to hold themselves accountable to them, much less the flock.

Ignatius' Trial With Trajan

There’s a wonderful account, actually, as a somewhat old account of a man who was brought to trial, by the name of Ignatius.  He was standing face to face with the Roman emperor Trajan.  “Who art thou?” said Trajan.  “Thou wretch of a devil, that are so ready to transgress our orders while you seduce others also that they may come to the same bad end.”  Ignatius said, “No man calls one that beareth God a wretch of a devil, for the devils stand aloof from the servants of God.” 

Trajan said, “And who is he that beareth God?”  Ignatius answered, “He that hath Christ in his heart.”  Trajan said, “Do you not think then that we too have gods in our hearts, seeing that we employ them as allies against our enemies?”  Ignatius said, “You are deceived when you call the devils of the nations gods, for there is one God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all things that are therein and one Christ Jesus, His only begotten Son, whose friendship I enjoy.” 

Trajan said, “Are you speaking of Him who was crucified under Pontius Pilate?”  Ignatius said, “I speak of Him that nailed on the cross sin and its author and sentenced every malice of the devils to be trampled underfoot of those that carry Him in their hearts.”  Trajan said, “Do you then carry Christ within you?”  Ignatius said, “Yes, for it is written, ‘I will dwell in them and will walk in them.’”

Trajan then gave the sentence and this is the sentence: “It is our order that Ignatius who says he bears about the crucified in himself shall be put in chains by the soldiers and taken to mighty Rome, there to be made food for wild beasts as a spectacle and a diversion for the people.”

The lines are drawn just that clearly.  We have Christ in our hearts.  We have no religious communion with those who do not.  We are the children of God; they are the children of Satan.  There can be no mutual spiritual enterprise.  Such compromise desecrates the name of Christ, gives false assurance to the unbeliever, and pollutes the Christian.

Are You Separated?

Authentic believers in Christ simply cannot fit into the world’s system. We are supposed to be different. We have different values, a different Lord, and a completely different agenda.

Yet, if we take a simple glance at many who profess to believe, we don't see much difference between them and the world. The preachers and teachers love the world and have taught those under them to do likewise.

Yet, Jesus said if you hate your life in this world you will have life eternal. John said that if you love and copy and mimic and follow the ways of the world, the love of the Father is not in you.

Here's a test for you - Jesus said that the world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that it's works are evil. Jesus said that the world would love it's own, yet said it would hate us, call us evil and separate us from their company because He has called us out of the world. Peter said they would call us evildoers because our ways are different. Does the world (or even in these Laodicean like times, the "church"), treat you well or are you a reproach?

Jesus called us to be holy, separate and polar opposites of the world and all it's ways. He called us to be lights that expose and reprove the unfruitful works of darkness that we ourselves once walked in. Yet, how can we do that when we still walk in those unfruitful works? We have deceived ourselves to be unequally yoked to the world, by "Christianizing" the values, things, customs, practices and ways of the world? We cannot!

We cannot serve two masters, let alone five,, ten, or twenty! We can only love and serve one! You didn't tell your spouse on wedding day that you will love and serve them and this person, and that person, and that one over there, and ... if you didn't they wouldn't have married you! They expect and demand whole and complete loyalty and they should!

Are you unequally yoked? Are you corrupted or perverted by the world? Are you of a double heart and mind to the Lord? Awake to righteousness! Examine yourself! Come out and separate yourself and wholly follow the Lord! I am here for you -message me if you need.

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Isa. 55:6-8

Deceived Hearts? Say It Ain't So!

 What? Can a Christian's heart deceive itself to think they can model and imitate the world and think they are still living a set apart, holy life dedicated to the God they say they whole heartedly love and serve? Yes indeed!!!

In Jeremiah 17:9 God tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Jesus also talked about the wickedness that lies in a man's heart in Mark 7:21-23 - saying that all these evil things come from within and defile the man. So truly wickedness lies in the heart of all men, Christians are not exempt! Again, in Jeremiah 17:5 the Lord says that cursed is the man whose heart has departed from the Lord. The Lord spoke through the prophet Ezekiel in 6:9 that His heart is broken in pieces with His people's whorish heart which has departed from Him to chase after the abominable idols they have set up in their heart (14:3; 33:31, etc.).

Yet, the Lord spoke of a generation that always erred in their heart to depart from the Lord. An evil heart of unbelief. A heart hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3). Oh, they call Him Lord, but do not the works He has instructed them to do in His Word - Mt. 25:11-12; Lk. 6:46; 1 Jn. 2:3-6. 

Oh I can hear the casual Christian filled with the world, having a form of godliness and religiosity - this doesn't speak of me! I'm okay. No one is perfect. And besides, my Christian buddies are doing the same. Yet, Galatians 6:7-8 tells us not to be deceived, that what we sow we will reap! Have you in all your ways been sowing the fruits of righteousness (Jam. 3:18; Prov. 11:18; Heb. 12:11), or have you rather been plowing wickedness, reaping iniquity and eating the fruit of lies with yours buddies (Hos. 10:13)? Are you an honest doer of the whole Word of God (Jam. 1:22-25)? 

Have you deceived yourself into a love of worldly things? (1 Jn. 2:15-17) Have you learned the ways of the ungodly and practice them without a pricked conscience? I have recently observed professing Christians once again observing their own form of Halloween, though with a different name in most cases. The casual observer notices no difference! The apostle Paul asks the Corithians what partnership does righteousness have with unrighteousness? What portion or part has does a believer share with an unbeliever? What fellowship has light with darkness? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? Why? Because we are the temple of God and He has called us to separate ourselves from such things! He calls us to cleanse ourselves from such wickedness and live in holiness in the fear of God! Alas, have you separated yourself, dearly beloved and elect of the Father? Or have you turned your heart after other gods/idols to serve and worship them? (Dt. 8:19; 11:16)

Remember that God is light and there is no darkness in Him (1 Jn. 1:5). Moreover if we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the Truth (1 Jn. 1:6). Is the path you are walking as a shining light that shines brighter each day, or is there some darkness lurking in your heart that is causing you to stumble with you even realizing it? (Prov. 4:18-19; Jer. 13:16)

Dear Christian, take heed to your ways. Examine them. Deceive not yourself. Just because others in your circle are doing it, doesn't mean that it is right and well pleasing before the Saviour of our souls and the righteous Judge Who will expose all unfruitful works of darkness. What exposes unfruitful works of darkness? Light of course (Eph. 5:11-13). How is your walk? Are you walking wisely or foolishly? (Eph. 5:15-17; Prov. 13:20) Normally those in darkness hide (Jn. 3:19-21), yet even today, those that name the name of Christ are walking in darkness and are not ashamed to let others know, but rather encourage others to follow the destructive ways (2 Pet. 2:2) and many are happy to do so! Yet, if we name the name of Christ we are to depart from iniquity! 2 Tim. 2:19; Mt. 7:21-23, etc.

Have you aloud yourself to be deceived? Take an inventory of the furthest reaches of your heart. Get into the Word! Ask God to search your heart for any wickedness. When it is found, forsake it and repent and God will be plentious in mercy towards you! Don't delay! Get right with Him today!

Nothing More Insulting

There is nothing which is more insulting to the holy name of God than to profess Him with your lips and deny Him with your life. 

Many who profess to be Christians are so enamoured by the things of this world, that the love of the Father and His Truth is not in them. They have been blinded by the God of this world and God has given them over to a strong delusion that they should be lies - as is evident by their love and friendship of the world, not realizing that they have given themselves over to other gods and have forsaken the one true God, Who is a jealous God and rightfully so!

You need to stop and examine yourself, your thoughts, your desires, all that you do with Scripture. Why are you driven to such things? Are you honestly pursuing to love God with all that you are? Denying yourself of earthly pleasures. Always putting Him first and even others before yourself. Or do you still enjoy flirting with the world? 

Like I have said, so many professing Christians have deceived themselves as they chose not to be holy, set apart, or not to be unequally yoked with the things of this world, but rather have chosen to be buddies with it. It appears they don't know what it means to be set apart from the world and wholly devoted to God. We are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked! Repent! Seek God! Amend your ways! Not later, NOW!

Sin is truly in the camp and the leadership must like it that way. Maybe they practice the wickedness of the world themselves. Maybe they are also under the strong delusion God has aloud because they do not have an honest love of His Truth. How often have you seen "church" discipline? We are in dire need of it! 

This post will probably get likes from the very people I'm trying to wake up. Even as the Lord told Ezekiel, that they hear your words. They will like what you say, but they will not do them. Instead they will continue to run to the worldly things they covet.

How much time do you spend in the Word of God? Many preachers set the bar so low it's no wonder that those who should know and put it into practice don't. I'm sure most of you do not spend near enough time in it. Why? For most there is no honestly good reason. There's no better time than the present to get off your phone, off of FB and all the worldly endeavors that will not amount to a hill of beans in eternity. We will all individually stand before the righteous Judge and give an account for our self. Will Jesus call you a good and faithful steward? Or will He say that He never knew you despite all your supposed religious Christian activities that is nothing more than smoke in His eyes that is detestable to Him because you practice unrighteousness? 

I could give numerous examples of worldliness in our lives and in God's called out assembly, yet you need to get into His Word for yourself and prayer and take an honest assessment of yourself to start. How thorns come in and choked the Word? Are the roots exposed on the rocks in the hot sun? Examine yourself! Take ernest heed! Bring yourself into subjection! Your life is a vapor. Here today, gone tomorrow. Sow to yourself in righteousness today!