Ecclesiastes 5:10 KJV “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity”

When we see rich folks today escpecially in the media they may seem to be happy, so content. “No worries,” is their lot so it seems. But is that the truth? What does God’s word say? God says that a lover of money (and most people including the rich are lovers of money) are not satisfied. They are not content. It’s a sham. It’s all a game. Who do you believe; God, or what the media shows you?

Why would rich people pretend to be happy when they’re not? Pride. Many of them won’t admit their money didn’t bring them the fulfilling life they sought after. Some think the answer must be getting more money. But this is just like being on drugs; always seeking that perfect high, always wanting more. Countless horror stories have been told of the rich and famous. These prove that money doesn’t bring happiness and contentment. Actually the more rich they became the more problems they had. But more importantly we know that wealth doesn’t bring contentment because God’s word says it.

Mark 8:36 KJV “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

There’s the real endgame behind seeking riches; your soul. Most rich people will do and have done anything under the sun to obtain wealth. And in the process have lost their own souls. How tragic! Jesus says if you gain all the riches in the whole world but lose your soul you have not profited at all. So their must be something about the soul that makes it more valuable than anything else! And the game is to trick you and me into believing that it’s worthless, that pursuing money is the most important thing at the neglect of our own soul. And who’s game is this that many are playing? Let’s let his own words answer:

Matthew 4:8 NET “Again, THE DEVIL took him [Jesus] to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. 4:9 And he said to him [Jesus], “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me.”

All righty then! Now we’re gettin to the nitty gritty! The Devil showed Jesus ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD (before modern TV was invented by the way) and all their rich splendor. Then he made Jesus an offer, ‘I’ll give it all to you; the world and all it’s riches, if you worship me.’ But Jesus didn’t play the Devil’s game. He flat out refused Satan’s offer. (Matthew 4:10) No wonder Satan has programmed people to hate Jesus so much. A narcissist hates being told, “No.”

Did you notice in the verse above the Devil told Jesus the prerequisite to obtaining these worldly riches is, ‘You must fall down and worship me?’ That’s what’s in it for the vain Devil; he has a God complex. He loves being worshipped. Do you think that Jesus is the only person he made this offer to? Of course not. Just the most important person he made the offer to. And Jesus flat out refused. Satan is a control freak. In order to be a big shot in this world you must come under his absolute control and be used for his sick ends.

After rejecting the evil ones offer, and living faithful to God unto death, Jesus was resurrected, and now sits at the right hand of Almighty God in heavenly glory FOREVER! ALL POWER in THE WHOLE UNIVERSE including Satan and his minions are under Jesus’ authority. (Matthew 28:18) I’d say Jesus came out a whole lot better doing it God’s way instead of selling out for money and fame, wouldn’t you?

God grants riches too. So we’re not saying that every rich person to ever live was a satanist. What the Bible shows is THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD must bow down to the Devil for their riches. Many of them know it, have done it, and make no qualms about it. They just want the money, the power, and the fame. It doesn’t matter to them who they have to worship in order to get it. But little do they know once they leave here (earth) there’s no undoing what they have done if they do not repent. They’ve lost their souls! ETERNITY for them will be unimaginably miserable! That’s why I’m urging anyone who’s having second thoughts about this to repent. It’s not worth it. Eternity in the pit in no way compares to a few fleeting moments of pleasure with riches now. It’s temporary and ends fast. But the lake of fire is ETERNAL. The suffering never ends.

Let’s say you have already sold your soul in a ritual of sorts and want to get out. Don’t believe that you can’t and God won’t forgive you. He can and will. There are witches and wizards who are leaving behind they’re life of fear and becoming set free by Jesus Christ everyday. I know of some who sold their souls and did many hideous things, but they repented, and God set them free from the power of evil spirits who often posed as good spirit guides. He [God] gave them new life in Jesus Christ. Now they are truly happy and content.

The Devil is a deceiver. His main weapon is fear. And all witches/wizards experience lots of fear. It’s the controlling mechanism to keep you from ever leaving that life. “What you seen happen to others will happen to you if you ever leave,” etcetera. Satan knows that if you truly come to Jesus Christ YOU ARE SAFE! You’ve beat him at his own game. So he will do everything in his power to intimidate you and cause you to believe your soul is His forever, when this never was the case. All souls belong to God. He never owned your soul to begin with. He just makes folks think he does. What a liar! God says:

Ezekiel 18:4 KJV “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

You can break away from the power of darkness. Jesus is the way. Cry out to Him and repent. He will forgive you. His love and mercy is that great. 😉

Don’t follow the plight of those who trade their souls for a short time of pleasure and fame. Don’t play the Devil’s game.

1 Timothy 6:8-10 NET “But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that. 6:9 Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.”

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Titus 3:9 NET “But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty.”

Let me share with you something the Holy Spirit shared with me: there are people in this life who must cause strife and argue. Why? Because of pride, plain and simple. Pride makes people stir up trouble, and pride causes others to feel they must respond to strife by arguing. There is this contention for superiority. A fight to prove who knows the most, or who is right. It’s all useless.

Here’s a interesting scenario: two people are talking about God, they are in agreement and are encouraging one another. Then someone jumps into their conversation and ask a controversial question. Maybe it’s a question about the law, or genealogies, etcetera. Usually the person asking the question doesn’t really want an answer. They just want to spew their own ideas and start an argument. Their phony question was just a ploy to get the attention of those who were encouraging each other, and hopefully throw them into confusion. Satan and his minions do this all the time. It’s really a magic trick.

What would you do if you were in that situation; that is the one being asked the question (or questions), and you can clearly see the questioner only wants to argue? Titus 3:9 says, “But AVOID foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty.” (NET) God tells us to AVOID the argument all together. DON’T PROVE ANYTHING TO THEM!!! But what do we see so often by those claiming to be Christians? Arguments; people fighting to prove their points or how much they know. We see self-righteousness.

If someone claims to be a Christian and is always fighting with people over religious issues their profession is a lie. There are so many scriptures in the Bible where we are told not to quarrel. Proverbs is full of them. How can we ignore all these commands from God throughout His word and call ourselves believers?

2 Timothy 2:24-26 NIV “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. [25] Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, [26] and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

Jesus teaches love not quarreling which is pride and hatred. People who feel they must prove themselves or what they know through arguing are motivated by pride. They don’t know the power of not responding to everything people throw at them and simply ignoring stuff sometimes. We must instruct opponents gently the Bible says (when we can). But if they are stiff-necked and only want to argue we are not commanded to instruct them. We’re actually commanded to do the opposite. We’ll get to more on that later.

If only people knew just how glorious in the sight of God are those who desist from arguing?

Proverbs 20:3 NET “It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.”

DON’T TALK IT WALK IT

I know a man who can quote the Bible better than most. He can take you up and down the law of Moses and the genealogy of the children of Israel with pinpoint accuracy. He speaks God’s word forcefully and eloquently. Yet every time I see him he’s in an argument with someone over the Bible. Yes, as the Bible says, ‘Knowledge puffs up but love builds up.’ (1 Corinthians 8:1) This man is filled with pride. He never builds anyone up. He’s always judging and condemning others (tearing them down), and showing off what he knows (or what he thinks he knows). I once heard him tell a guy he was arguing with he would kill him yelling at the top of his voice. Security had to restrain him from getting physical. I’ve seen this same man get escorted by security out of another facility for the same thing. But boy can he quote the scriptures! None of this matters though if he/we don’t have love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) And God calls him/us a fool for arguing so much. (Proverbs 20:3 Ecclesiastes 7:9) I hope he/we repents.

“HEY WAIT!”

I never read in the Bible where Jesus ran behind people saying, “Hey wait!” and then shoved His teaching down their throats. Neither should we. In conclusion below are four passages that tell us who we should and should not discuss God’s word with and why. When things start to get heated; when people want to fuss and fight us over our beliefs, or want to have a who knows the most contest, God says to simply leave them alone. If we habitually fight with these people our profession as a Christian is a lie. Because we are not obeying God.

Matthew 7:6 NET “Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you to pieces.”

Proverbs 9:7-9 NIV “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. [8] Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you [9] Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.”

Matthew 10:14 NIV “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.”

2 Timothy 2:2 AMP “The things [the doctrine, the precepts, the admonitions, the sum of my ministry] which you have heard me teach in the presence of many witnesses, entrust [as a treasure] to reliable and faithful men who will also be capable and qualified to teach others.”

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2 Chronicles 15:3-4 NLT For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Law to instruct them. [4] But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him out, they found him.”

God makes Himself available to all who earnestly seek Him regardless of adverse circumstances. The above passage proves that God can be found even if there aren’t any true preachers around, and even if there aren’t any good Bibles around too. Israel was without priests and the law and still found God. How? They humbled themselves, repented, and cried out to God for help.

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Notice God says He can be found ONLY when we seek Him wholeheartedly? He didn’t say it’s when we find that great preacher to listen to, or when we find the right church. He didn’t say, ‘Once you find the right Bible translations and study books you’ll find me.’ These things have their place but they’re not prerequisites to finding God.

Matthew 7:7-11 NET “ASK and IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU; SEEK and YOU WILL FIND; KNOCK and THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED for you. 7:8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 7:9 Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 7:10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 7:11 If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Finding God; being connected to Him, is the greatest gift anyone can have. God is willing to fully give Himself to anyone who sincerely ask.

John 3:16 NIV “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that WHOEVER BELIEVES in him shall not perish but HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”

Finding God means having ETERNAL LIFE! And as we have seen in Matthew 7:7-11 all we have to do is ask, seek, and knock. Yes, finding God is that simple. So don’t let anyone play tricks on you when it comes to finding God. Pray to Him; let Him know what you want. If your desires are honorable and sincere, and you seek Him with an undivided heart, HE WILL answer you and let you find Him:

Hebrews 11:6 NET “Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that HE REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK HIM.”

Acts 17:27 NIV “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though HE IS NOT FAR from any one of us.”

Psalm 9:9-10 KJV “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. [10] And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”

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1 Corinthians 10:20-22 NET “No, I mean that what the pagans sacrifice is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 10:22 Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is?”

There is this great misconception that you can have a little light and a little darkness. A little bit of good and a little bit of evil. A little God and a little devil, or a whole lot of God and devil, etcetera. This (duality) thinking is pushed as a good thing. It is a part of the occult. And has even found it’s way in the so-called church. Yes, so many claiming to be believers have been duped by the devil into believing you can eat from the table of demons and eat from the table of God too. It’s as if the Tree Of Knowledge Of Good And Evil still exists. And there are many who choose to eat from it.

The other day I heard a man who is respected by many in his community as a Christian leader spread a damnable lie. A famous singer had just passed away. It was all over the news. In honor of this recording artist the man said to a crowd of over one hundred people, “One thing about her that she always did: at every concert, even though she sung Rock N Roll music, she always sung one gospel song. She always brought it back home to the church. She showed that God was really in her.” The folks in the audience cheered as if this man had said something profound. But little did they know how wrong they were.

PICK ONE OR THE OTHER

Joshua 24:15 ESV “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

The scriptures makes it very clear that we cannot serve two masters; we will love one and hate the other or be devoted to one and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24) In view of this let’s examine what the man said about the deceased singer. He said that though she sung Rock N Roll music at her concerts she always sung at least one gospel song. And this showed that God was really in her. First of all do you know how and why Rock N Roll Music was created? It was created by witches to get Christians to put spells on themselves. Yes, that’s what I said. And I hope you think what I said is so crazy you’ll do your own investigation to prove me wrong. The evidence shows that Rock N Roll music was created by witches and wizards. And it was created for the sole purpose of putting spells on (influencing) Christians. These magicians found out that if you set certain words (spells) to a catchy tune like Rock N Roll music, and have the listeners sing or repeat phrases over and over to themselves (what we today call the chorus or the hook to a song but what witches call a chant or incantation), you can get people to put spells on themselves. Clever indeed!

If all this is true (which I hope you will research for yourself) how can anybody who produces or performs any genre of music that does this to people be pleasing to God? Think of popular songs you know. What are the choruses or hooks to those songs really saying? What influence do the music and words have on people? Who’s music do you listen to? What do these artist have you chanting to yourself? Are you singing or rapping phrases that subconsciously or consciously draw you closer to God, or further away from Him? Are these words and phrases really getting into your subconscious, OR YOUR SOUL? You bet your butt they are. People are being influenced for evil and casting spells on themselves through popular music without even knowing it. Clever indeed!

For rock solid proof of this look up a man named, “John Todd.” Lot’s of info about Him is circulating on Youtube and social media these days. It’s true you can’t believe everything you see or hear on social media. But listen to what he has to say and decide for yourself. There you will find John Todd’s testimony regarding how he was a very high level wizard (male witch) in a very powerful family. He later became a Christian and spilled the beans. His story is super interesting. Mr. Todd was a very high level music executive in the music industry too. He spills the beans on that as well. You will be amazed to hear what he says really goes on behind closed doors in the music world with recording artists and the many songs we love (or loved) and listen to. To get an insider’s view on what really happens in Satan’s music industry look up John Todd.

YOU LIKE ORANGE JUICE?

I like orange juice. And many of you do too. But if I gave you a whole gallon of OJ and put just one drop of poison in it, would you drink it? No way! So can we mix a whole lot of God with just a little bit of satan, or a whole lot of good with just a little bit of evil and it’s all ok? NO WAY! And back to music; there is overwhelming evidence that music has an effect on people’s moods and attitudes good or bad, even years after certain songs they’ve listened to. Any recording artist regardless of what genre of music they produce is not in the right for making music that induces people to sin, or put spells on themselves. This evil is not excused just because they sing a gospel song here or there or many of them.

James 3:10-12 NET “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. 3:11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? 3:12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.”

GOD SAYS this duality thing; this playing both sides of the field is garbage! And back to music again; we (the consumers of music) are not right when we listen to music that we know promotes Satan’s agenda, then we turn around and listen to gospel music too. We are trying to eat from the table of demons and the table of the Lord. And the Lord says, “NO WAY!”

Revelation 3:15-16 NET “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! 3:16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth!”

Being in between; straddling the fence, wishy-washy, double-minded, and not taking a firm stand for righteousness gets Jesus’ indictment of, “Guilty!” Don’t be fooled into believing you can have both sides: light and darkness. In God there is only light, and no darkness at all. And it’s the same for those who are truly in Him:

1 John 1:5-7 NIV “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: GOD IS LIGHT; IN HIM THERE IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. [6] If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NIV “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or WHAT FELLOWSHIP CAN LIGHT HAVE WITH DARKNESS? [15] What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? [16] What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” [17] Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” [18] And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Come out from them and be separate God says! WHAT FELLOWSHIP CAN LIGHT HAVE WITH DARKNESS? There is no yin and yang, no intermingling of the two, no such thing as spiritual duality. It’s a hoax. It is literally impossible for light and darkness to dwell together. Satan’s lie is that they can.

Matthew 6:6:22-23 KJV “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!”

Jesus says you’re filled with only one or the other; light or darkness, you can’t have both. And if the light in you– or what you’re portraying as light–is really darkness, then how great or deep the dark side is in you.

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Hebrews 11:13-16 NET “These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth. 11:14 For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 11:15 In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 11:16 But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
This place is not our home. How many of us are convinced of that? When you’re going on a trip you pack your clothes and other items you need. But do you try to take everything you own with you? Of course not. That would be ridiculous. I believe our existence here on earth is similar. Why do I believe this? Because it is stated in God’s word that we like Jesus Christ are not from here:

John 8:23 KJV “And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.”

John 17:14-16 KJV “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, EVEN AS I AM NOT OF THE WORLD. [15] I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. [16] THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, EVEN AS I AM NOT OF THE WORLD.”

Jeremiah 1:5 KJV “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

Romans 8:29 NIV “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

1 John 4:6 NIV “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.”

1 John 4:7 KJV “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”

Yes, God foreknew us before we were even formed in our mother’s womb. And those of us who live a life of Love are born of God and know Him. (1 John 4:8) Just as Jesus is not from this evil world neither are we. Like Him we are passing through.

We need to imitate Jesus’ resolute determination while on earth. He was focussed on fulfilling His mission and going back home to be with the Father. He didn’t let sight seeing down here get the better of Him. Our enemy Satan hopes we get distracted here. He wants us to miss out on what he will never have; heaven, living eternally in the presence of the Lord. He knows how real heaven is. Hence he tries to make living on earth look like the best thing ever. He’s convinced some to even believe that heaven doesn’t exist, and that there is no hell. This life is all there is he tells them. Live it up while you can. Or he sells them some other fake afterlife dream.

FEEL LIKE YOU DON’T BELONG?

1 Peter 2:11 KJV “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”

How liberating and exciting it can be when one learns he/she is a pilgrim here; a sojourner. When one finds out their true self exists is in Christ it can be a bit overwhelming. The Bible says our lives are hidden in Christ. (Colossians 3:3) Truly recognizing this can cause everything from feelings of joy to fear.

1 Peter 2:9 HCSB “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises, of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

I know some of us don’t think of ourselves as belonging to a special race, or see ourselves as part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, or even a special possession belonging to God. But that’s exactly what the Bible says we are. We who believe in Jesus Christ are not of this world. We’re literally from God. This is not our home. But we have work to do while we are here.

HE WILL DO IT

Have you ever asked yourself, “How am I gonna do that?” when it pertained to something God wanted you to do? You’re not alone. I remember when I first believed in the Lord and there was something He made known to me he wanted me to do. At first I was excited and honored that Almighty God chose me for such a task. Then I became afraid; thinking, “How am I gonna do that?” It worried me for some time. As the years rolled by I learned that you and I aren’t really doing anything. It is God who does it all through us. We just have to have a willing heart to be used by Him. We just have to be obedient. Then God will do the rest. We can’t do a single thing on our own when it comes to God. And it’s a good thing that we recognize this. But not so good if it drives us to morbid fear, and causes us to run away from what God is calling us to do. Instead of fearing failing God, or what we can and cannot do, lets take our eyes off of ourselves and put our focus and trust in our Almighty God, who wills in us to do and to act according to His good purpose:

Philippians 1:6 KJV “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 2:13 NIV “For IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

Ephesians 2:10 AMP “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above–spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”

See? God planned (ordained) long ago to use us all in special ways. He even set the paths we would take in order to accomplish His will. It has nothing to do with our natural abilities, worldly education, social status, etcetera. But has everything to do with His love and good pleasure. Everything we have and are, even our purpose in life comes from God. So we shouldn’t fear being able to accomplish what God wants us to do. It pleased Him LONG AGO to choose us and use us. WOW! God WILL DO His good work through us all! We just have to stay focused on Him and His ALMIGHTY POWER, not on ourselves.

John 15:4-5 NIV “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. [5] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT; apart from me you can do nothing.”

It’s almost time to go home y’all. But til then we got work to do. I hope this has encouraged you, and to stay busy in the work of the Lord while we’re still here.

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

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Let Setbacks Propel You

Proverbs 24:16 NIV “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.”

A businessman was asked why he was so successful. He basically answered by saying that he had failed more often than his counterparts. And he accepted failure as part of the process to success. Every time he failed he learned something and added it to his repertoire. If we have the same attitude spiritually we will do well.

Because we are born in sin we all fall short (fail) often:

Romans 3:23 NET “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

But are we learning from our mistakes? If a toddler touches a hot stove they remember it. And will usually stay away from that stove. But how many adults will keep touching hot stoves and don’t care if they get burned? How many think they can make what is wrong right and what is right wrong?

Proverbs 6:28 KJV “Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?”

Instead of making the same stupid mistakes over and over again let failures and setbacks propel you to success. You must do something different in order to get different results. Keep doing the same thing and you will only keep getting the same thing, good or bad. Let’s get into the habit of forming good habits.

I’VE FALLEN BUT I CAN GET UP

One of my greatest heroes in the Bible is David. Not because he slew the giant Goliath. Not because he was a great warrior. Not because he was a great music producer in his day. David is one of my heroes because he knew how to bounce back up when he got knocked down. He never let failure and setbacks get the best of him. And he had some huge disasters. But David learned how to, “Keep on keepin on,” in spite of. His relationship with God taught him this. Once he recognized his faults he switched gears and did something different. If you want an example of grit look up David in the Bible and read his life story. We’ll do even better if we follow his example.

God says that though a righteous person falls seven times they will rise up again. You can’t keep a righteous person down. The spirit of God drives the righteous. And nothing about the spirit of God involves being a quitter. Even when they have sinned they repent and get back up.

This life is filled with daily challenges. Someone is always trying to knock you off your square. Unforseen circumstances pop up. And there are times we just make bad choices. Once you recognize you’re in trouble just fight to get back up. A failure, a setback, even a sin, can be instrumental in catapulting you into a whole new direction in life; a successful one. Be prepared to accept failures and setbacks even sins as part of the process to growing success.

2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

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Nit-picking

Luke 6:1-11 NIV “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. [2] Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” [3] Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? [4] He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” [5] Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” [6] On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. [7] The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. [8] But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. [9] Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” [10] He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. [11] But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.”

Merriam Webster’s definition of the word, “Nit-picking,” is: “minute and usually unjustified criticism.” Is that not what the Pharisees were doing to Jesus and His disciples? Does not the same spirit attack us today? We are scrutinized and criticised for everything. We are dubbed as haters though we love mankind. But that’s ok. It is mandatory that we be treated the same way Jesus was. A slave is not greater than his master. Such close scrutiny and attacks is proof that we have God’s Spirit:

1 Peter 4:12-16 KJV “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. [14] If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; FOR THE SPIRIT OF GLORY AND OF GOD RESTETH UPON YOU: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. [15] But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. [16] Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

Yes, to be picked on for nothing really means something when it’s done because you’re a Christian. This is proof that THE SPIRIT OF GLORY and THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS RESTING ON YOU. Think for a moment abouT that.

IT DOES MAKE SENSE

When people come at you sideways get out of the habit of saying, “This doesn’t make sense,” because it does make sense, just not good sense on their part. Jesus said,

Matthew 10:24-25 KJV “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. [25] It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?”

See, Jesus says that it does make sense. Jesus is the master of God’s house. Look at how they treated Him and even called Him Beelzebub which means Satan. If this is how the leader of God’s house was treated (and is still treated today) how can the servants or members of His house expect to be treated any better? It makes plenty of sense when people nit-pick and attack you. They did the same thing to Jesus all the time. But instead of dwelling on their attacks focus on what it all really means: YOU ARE A MEMBER OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD!!! YOUR REWARD IS ETERNALLY GREAT!!! If we hold on to our faith we will reside with almighty God forever. And that makes plenty sense indeed!

Matthew 5:10-12 KJV “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. [12] Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

Being, “blessed,” is what Jesus says it means; that you’re a follower of Him, and as a result are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. How truly blessed we are! But we don’t always feel like it because evil words and actions hurt sometimes. When folks attack you try to stay focussed on just how blessed you are to share in Christ’s sufferings. And don’t forget to praise God for the privilege of sharing in the sufferings of Jesus.

1 Peter 2:21-23 NIV “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. [22] “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” [23] When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

Acts 5:40-42 NLT “They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. [41] The apostles left the high council REJOICING THAT GOD HAD COUNTED THEM WORTHY TO SUFFER DISGRACE FOR THE NAME OF JESUS. [42] And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

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A Muddied Spring

Proverbs 25:26 NIV “Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.”

It starts with a little compromise here and a little compromise there. “If you say something they’re gonna think you think you’re all that,” is whispered in our ears. Fear tries to seize us. “You’ll lose your job, your house, your friends, your spouse, if you do or say something,” are the voices we hear. Listening to these suggestions will make us give in to the wicked. We will have become a muddied spring or a polluted well; good for nothing at all:

Matthew 5:13 HCSB “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.”

It is dangerous to give in to the wicked. Some have done so to the point of no return. They can’t be made salty again. If we feel remorse for giving in to the wicked this is a good sign we can repent. But for those who will not repent there’s only the following:

2 Thessalonians 2: 11-12 NIV “For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie [12] and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”

Romans 1:28 KJV “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate [rejected] mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”

Hebrews 10:26-27 HCSB “For if we deliberately sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.”

There are people on earth who have blown it with God and think they’re alright. And others who think there’s no hope for them when there really is. If you feel remorse for giving in to the wicked you can repent. But for some when left by themselves to think; meaning there are no more drugs or alcohol to numb their senses, or other distractions to get into, they are horrified because they know the terror of God’s coming judgment. Yet they are not moved to repentance. That’s why they have to stay busy all the time. They must keep their minds off of it (God’s Judgment). Fun and entertainment assist in this. Imagine feeling like you have to get drunk, or do drugs, just to keep your mind off of your past and what you know is coming. Imagine getting to the point where you lie to yourself and believe that nothing bad will happen to you for your wrong actions. God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe these and many other lies. (2 Thessalonians 2: 11-12)

‘How does a person get this way,’ one might ask? With some it was just a little compromise here, a little compromise there (so it seemed). Many of them once stood for righteousness (so it seemed) but gave way to the wicked. Why? Because they wanted to be accepted by them in order to receive something evil they desired.

James 1:14-15 NET “But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. 1:15 Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.”

Ezekiel 33:12-13 NET “And you, son of man, say to your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous will not deliver him if he rebels. As for the wicked, his wickedness will not make him stumble if he turns from it. The righteous will not be able to live by his righteousness if he sins.’ 33:13 Suppose I tell the righteous that he will certainly live, but HE BECOMES CONFIDENT IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS and commits iniquity. None of his righteous deeds will be remembered; because of the iniquity he has committed he will die.”

This passage demolishes the argument for, “Once Saved Always Saved?”

Jeremiah 3:12-13 NET “Go and shout this message to my people in the countries in the north. Tell them, ‘Come back to me, wayward Israel,’ says the Lord. ‘I will not continue to look on you with displeasure. For I am merciful,’ says the Lord. ‘I will not be angry with you forever. 3:13 However, you must confess that you have done wrong, and that you have rebelled against the Lord your God.”

DON’T CONSENT TO EVIL

You and I will be tested again and again to give in to the wicked. Temptation will come in many forms and subtle ways. People will seek to control you. They will try to make you feel uncool for not going along with them in their destructive courses. They will make it their life’s work to get you to sin. Be willing to stand out like a sore thumb for doing what is right. There is a great promising reward for doing so: 😉

Matthew 10:32-39 NET “Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 10:33 But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven. 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. 10:35 For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, 10:36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. 10:37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 10:38 And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it.”

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Jeremiah 1:17-19 NET “But you, Jeremiah, get yourself ready! Go and tell these people everything I instruct you to say. Do not be terrified of them, or I will give you good reason to be terrified of them. 1:18 I, the Lord, hereby promise to make you as strong as a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. You will be able to stand up against all who live in the land, including the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and all the people of the land. 1:19 They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you,” says the Lord.”

What a promise FROM ALMIGHTY GOD!!! You think this promise is for Jeremiah alone?

Psalm 34:7 NET The Lord’s angel camps around the Lord’s loyal followers and delivers them.”

Daniel 12:1 CEV “Michael, the chief of the angels, is the protector of your people, and he will come at a time of terrible suffering, the worst in all of history. And your people who have their names written in The Book will be protected.”

Isaiah 37:36 ESV “And the [one] angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.”

Hebrews 1:14 ESV “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”

Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead ofyou. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Proverbs 29:25 “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.”

How dare we fear men? 😉

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