You know it’s easy to go around saying things like, “God is on my side.” Or, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.” Or, “I’m blessed and highly favored.” Or even, “I’m glad I know Jesus.” But what about the people who don’t know Him? What about those who aren’t blessed? Do we have any compassion for them. Let’s listen to a religious leader who thought he too was, “Blessed and highly favored.”

Luke 18:9-14 NIV “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: [10] “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ [13] “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ [14] “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

This passage shows that just because we think all is well between us and God doesn’t mean it is. So many (like the Pharisee) are trying to reach God through following certain rules, or by possessing special knowledge. And it’s a common thread for these folks to have no compassion for anyone else. But the Bible makes it clear that following mere rules (even God’s rules) will get us nowhere. (Luke 18:18-25) It’s the heart that the Lord is after.

“FASTING I DESIRE”

How many times have we heard religious people tell us they are fasting? They go without food or whatever for a day or so believing this will bring them closer to God. There is a true way to fast that’s spoken of in the Bible. But the moment someone goes around telling everyone he/she is fasting, and complains that they can’t eat anything today, etcetera, they’ve just made what they’re doing null and void. Let’s let God explain why:

Matthew 6:16-18 NIV “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. [17] But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, [18] so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Isaiah 58:5-8 NLT “You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the LORD? [6] “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. [7] Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. [8] “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.”

Did we notice the kind of fasting God wants? Not the mere ritual of going through the motions of looking humble and afflicting ourselves for a day or so. But the affliction that comes from a change of heart. God wants us to behave a certain way towards others. With love and compassion. He wants us to do everything from feeding and caring for the homeless to freeing those who are wrongly imprisoned. From lightening the workloads of employees to removing the chains that bind and oppress people. What God calls fasting and people call it are two different things. What God is really calling all of us to do is BE COMPASSIONATE. Will we answer the call?

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Ephesians 4:26-27 KJV “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: [27] Neither give place to the devil.”

Let’s play a game called CONQUER ANGER. The object of the game is to, ‘Become angry, and sin not.’ What a game! At times it feels like you’re in a video game of sorts. Only IT’S REAL, and there are real life consequences. You can always count on someone doing or saying something that provokes you to anger. How we respond is what determines whether we win or lose.

Did you know that if we do not conquer our anger we are giving Satan a place (or space) in our lives? Imagine you’re harboring resentment toward someone. At that very moment the Devil gets to build a house, then a village, then a city, a state, a country etcetera in an unseen realm in our lives. Oh this place is very real. You just can’t see it. Now imagine again that same person you’re holding a grudge against. Only this time you decide to obey God and forgive them. That house, village, city, state, or country we allowed the Devil to build in our lives has just been torn down. YOU WIN! YAY!!!😁

2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.”

When we become and stay angry with people Satan is building strongholds in our lives. What’s a stronghold? A fortress. A fortified place. A place to hold something or someone securely. Hmmmm. When we obey God and fight with the spiritual weapons of war he gives us we demolish strongholds of the enemy. Now imagine yourself again in the video game called CONQUER ANGER. Are you whipping up on those demons, and tearing down strongholds? Or are those trolls conquering you?

SUPER WEAPON AGAINST ANGER

The most powerful weapon to defeat anger is LOVE. Love is not easily angered. Love is patient. It’s kind (the very opposite of anger). And it doesn’t keep a record of how many times it’s been wronged. Living the life of love which we are commanded to do is the ultimate way to CONQUER ANGER.

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 NIV “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”

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James 1:19-20 ESV “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

There’s a saying: “God gave us two ears and one mouth, so that we can do twice as much hearing than speaking.” God encourages all of His children to be quick hearers and slow speakers. Let’s examine why:

Proverbs 10:19 NASB “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.”

Psalm 39:1 NIV “I said, ‘I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.’ “

John 8:2-7 KJV “And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. [3] And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, [4] They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. [5] Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? [6] This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, AS THOUGH HE HEARD THEM NOT. [7] So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

Proverbs 17:27-28 ESV “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.”

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Proverbs 18:21 NLT “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”

After examining these verses have you seen why it is best to be a quick hearer and a slow speaker? Did you know there is life and death in the power of the tongue? How many lives have been ruined because of untimely words? Speaking too quickly can get us into lots of trouble. On the other hand being quick to listen is a sign that we are wise.

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Ecclesiastes 7:20 NLT “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.”

There are many who are deluded into thinking they are good people. You hear them say it all the time; “I’m a good person.” Interestingly Jesus who truly is good was once called a good person by someone and had this to say about it:

Luke 18:19 NLT “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good.

So if Jesus–the only human to never sin–didn’t let people call him good, who are we to make such a claim? Being what we call, “A good person,” is not enough to please God. The next passage illustrates this well:

Luke 18:18‭-‬30 ESV “And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

WOW! There’s so much to learn from this passage. But one of the things we glean is here was a man who didn’t steal, didn’t commit adultery, wasn’t a murderer, honored his parents, and didn’t slander others. Still he wasn’t good enough to please God. Because good works alone can never gain God’s approval the Bible says. The man started his conversation with Jesus by calling Him, “Good Teacher.” But when the Good Teacher taught him what he must do to receive eternal life he couldn’t accept Jesus’ teaching. Instead he became very sad. Jesus told him he was only lacking ONE thing. But that one thing was a doozy. It occupied the man’s heart. This is evident by his response (becoming very sad) about what Jesus commanded him. Though an ethical person the man’s true heart was uncovered. He was devoted to his riches and despised Almighty God. He loved his money and hated God:

Matthew 6:24 NIV “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Here’s another example that proves our perceived goodness; our own righteousness, will get us nowhere:

Luke 18:9-14 NLT “Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: [10] “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people-cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! [12] I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ [13] “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ [14] I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

WOW!!! There it is again. The Pharisee seemed to be doing everything right; it appeared he had his act together, but he totally missed the mark. He too depended on his own good works instead of God who makes people righteous. And here we have a known sinner; a tax collector, who doesn’t claim any goodness or righteousness of his own, but depends on God, and winds up pleasing Him. God justified this sinner, not the religious Pharisee. WOW!!! Isn’t God cool? He puts down the arrogant but shows grace and favor to the humble.

None of us can truthfully make the claim that we are righteous. We sin way too much.

Romans 3:23-24 KJV “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

And lastly, one of my favorite examples of how a person who is not good can be made right with God by simply believing in the one who is good; Jesus Christ:

Luke 23:39-43 NIV “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” [40] But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? [41] We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” [42] Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” [43] Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

YES! YES! YES! 😂 Don’t you see it? God is so good! And He makes righteous whom He declares righteous! No puny human can ever step to him and say, “I am good.” It is blasphemy. But those who come to God with a contrite heart, and humble spirit like the man on the cross, and like the tax collector, WILL receive a righteous standing before Almighty God, because God is that good and kind!

Romans 4:5 NIV “However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.”

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Proverbs 4:7 KJV “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

Wisdom is indeed prime, and so is understanding. Without these a person is lost. You can’t discern matters correctly. Hence you can’t make good decisions. In our troubled world we need wisdom and understanding. Many claim to have them but these precious jewels belong to them that travel into the strait gate. (Matthew 7:13-14) Wisdom and Understanding are hidden treasures. Some work is involved in getting them. God explains it this way:

Proverbs 2:1-6 KJV “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; [2] So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; [3] Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; [4] If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; [5] Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. [6] For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”

God gives wisdom and understanding. It is obtained from no one else. Many claim to have it, but only a few rarely find it, even though God tells us exactly how to get his knowledge. A person must receive God’s words. To receive something means to accept it willingly, without putting up a fight. It also means to believe a thing or recognize it as truth. This is how we must view all of God’s words, even those we do not fully understand yet, because they come from God who cannot lie. (Titus 1:2) There should never be a moment when we argue against what God says. We must receive His words even when they show us our faults, and repent.

We must also hide or store up God’s commands within us. This means we commit the things we learn about God to memory through meditation of His word. We take time out to study the Bible and seriously think about what God says, with a view to applying His words in our lives. Our hearts and ears must become tuned into wisdom and understanding. We must look for it and enjoy hearing it. Just as we would look for and tune into our favorite TV shows or music we once listened to we now are on the prowl for wisdom and understanding.

God says that our efforts alone are not enough. We must cry out to Him (pray) for knowledge and understanding. This is very important to remember. We can’t get these hidden treasures without the help of Almighty God. Yet when we do search for them God says to seek them like we would seek silver, and to search for them like we are searching for hidden treasure. If we do not obey God in this we will never find His hidden Wisdom.

SEEK HER LIKE SILVER

The word, “silver,” in Proverbs 2:4 simply means, “money.” God says to search for His wisdom like we seek money. How do people seek money? Is it the most important thing in the world to them? Most folks yes. Do people go to work daily in order to obtain money? Yeah. Do they risk their lives in order to get it? Yes. Do they feel like they’re nothing without money? Yep. Do they risk their health for money? Yes. Does the average person want to be rich? You betchah. The same way people view and seek after money God is saying we must seek out His Wisdom and Understanding. Can anyone count the many ways people search for money? Probably not. Just imagine having the same attitude towards obtaining God’s Wisdom.

Matthew 13:44 NLT “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.”

SEEK HER LIKE HIDDEN TREASURE

God says to look for His understanding like we search for hidden treasure. How do people seek hidden treasure? Don’t they make many sacrifices in order to obtain they’re treasures? They sacrifice hours, days, weeks, months, and even years to gain their treasures. They sacrifice relationships too (even close ones) to obtain their treasure. And like the man described in Matthew 13:44, they will sell everything they have in order to possess their treasures. In other words nothing can stop them when it comes to owning what they desire, no matter who or what gets in the way. They are like Michael Jordan going after another NBA championship: unstoppable! Do we accept this view, and do we exhibit such diligence when it comes to obtaining God’s Wisdom and Understanding?

“THEN SHALT THOU UNDERSTAND…”

If we seek after God’s Wisdom and Understanding the way He Describes in Proverbs 2:1-6, “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” YAY!!! 😁

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Proverbs 14:29 ESV — Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

If you saw someone laying a trap for you, would it be wise to walk right into it? That would be stupid. So why do people get sucked into (or suckered into) foolish arguments and fights so easily? Could it be they don’t see the trap?

PRIDE

Pride blinds us to many things. It makes us feel invincible. It is the chief reason why people get into quarrels and fights. When you have an inflated view of yourself you are very touchy and sensitive. The least thing can set you off. This person is out of control. No wonder God hates pride.

Proverbs 16:18 KJV “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

People easily fall into all kinds of traps due to arrogance (haughtiness), including the fussing, cussing, and fighting trap. In order to not get sucked in we must learn the opposite of pride.

HUMILITY

Proverbs 17:28 KJV “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”

Zephaniah 2:3 NIV “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.”

Proverbs 22:4 KJV “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.”

Proverbs 18:12 KJV “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.”

Humility is no joke. It brings the very opposite of pride; riches, honor, and life. The funny thing about humility though is when seeking it you sometimes feel like you’re always getting the short end of the stick. Sometimes it feels like the proud of this world are always prospering. These feelings are normal. You’re definitely not alone if you feel or ever felt this way. Asaph once did. Asaph is a servant of God who became envious of the wicked for a brief moment. But he regained his footing. He thought that the care free way of the wicked landed them on easy street. It seemed like they were living it up. But he soon learned that their way wasn’t free from pain as he thought. Read the words of Asaph below and see if you can relate.

Psalms 73:1‭-‬28 ESV “Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”

Does what Asaph said sound familiar? Asaph almost got sucked into the trap of believing that the wicked have it better than the righteous. But as he meditated on the matter he saw how wrong he was. This type of thinking can produce depression, quarrels, and fights. It’s called envy. Envy is a burning desire for something we believe will be beneficial to us. Usually it’s desiring things others have that we feel we deserve too. If not careful we can become trapped by envy.

James 4:1 ISV “Where do those fights and quarrels among you come from? They come from your selfish desires that are at war in your bodies, don’t they?”

We must believe God when he says:

1 Timothy 6:7-8 NIV “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. [8] But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

Brothers and sisters let’s keep fighting not to get sucked in.

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How often do we hear preachers tell crowds of people, “All of you have God’s spirit living in you?” And yes, they are talking about The Holy Spirit? This is the furthest thing from the truth. The below passages prove it:

Romans 8:9 KJV “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

John 14:17 KJV “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

God makes it plain how one receives The Holy Spirit:

Ephesians 1:13 KJV “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”

Ephesians 1:13 says after a person hears the word of truth, and believes the gospel of salvation–truly entrusting themselves and their spiritual well being to the Lord–they become sealed and filled with the Holy Spirit. Everyone has not done this. Just look around you. Most do not believe the gospel that can save them. Most show by their conduct they are on the broad road that leads to destruction:

Matthew 7:13-14 NLT “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. [14] But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”

Jesus says only a few ever find the narrow road that leads to life. That’s scary. It is wrong to tell people that we all have God’s Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us. Some even say you can activate the God (Spirit) within you through meditation, doing good deeds, learning certain prayers, etcetera. This is all witchcraft. And it reminds me of another lie: telling people that we’re all God’s children:

John 8:44 KJV “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

1 John 3:10 KJV “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

God makes it very plain who belongs to Him and who is a child of the Devil.

2 Timothy 2:19 NIV “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

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James 4:4 KJV “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

There are lines being drawn in the sands
It’s clearer where everyone stands

Are you on God’s side or the Devil’s?
Are you loyal to Christ or to rebels?

The line’s being drawn in the sand
Whom do you fear, God or man?

Proverbs 29:25 KJV “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.”

I remember a sister whom I’ve known for years telling me a dream she received from the Lord. In her dream the Lord was utterly destroying this world. Raging fires were devouring people. It was merciless and horrific. The sister asked the Lord in her dream why was He doing this. He responded with one word; “Adultery.”

That word (adultery) describes the wicked apostate churches of the world today, especially in America. The church leaders fear men more than they fear God. They’re more concerned about keeping their tax exempt status with the government than caring for the Lord’s flock. These church leaders are whores! All in the pew aren’t innocent either. They love being lied to and even pay the pastors to keep on lying to them. They have committed adultery against the Lord of hosts. And there will be a penalty to pay; no exemptions, no exceptions:

Jeremiah 23:1 KJV “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.”

Jeremiah 5:31 ISV “The prophets prophesy falsely, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?”

These lukewarm Pastors, Elders, Bishops, etcetera, are unwilling to speak the whole truth found in God’s word the Bible and are destroying the sheep. Have you ever wondered why there hasn’t been severe persecution happening to Christian churches in America like you hear about in other countries? Because Satan’s already got these churches through their apostate Preachers. They’re no threat to him. But all of that is about to change. The Bible says that judgment begins first with the household of God.

1 Peter 4:17-18 KJV “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? [18] And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

The great slaughter of the apostate church will be God’s doing. God is about to cleanse His temple. So many will betray and hate each other just as Jesus said.

Matthew 10:17-23 KJV “But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; [18] And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. [19] But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. [20] For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. [21] And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. [22] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. [23] But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”

Lines will be drawn in the sand just as they are now. Anyone who’s faith is not refined by fire like gold will be consumed.

The greedy, fearful, apostate church leaders are in for a big surprise. They’re gonna get the same treatment Israel got whenever she whored and ran after the nations for her security instead of trusting in God. God handed Israel over to her lovers, who turned on her and destroyed her.

Jeremiah 17:5 NLT “This is what the LORD says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD.”

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John 13:34-35 KJV “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another Jesus says. That’s what a true Christian or disciple of Christ looks like: LOVE.

1 John 4:8 NIV “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

It is impossible to know God without living in love.

1 John 4:20-21 KJV “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? [21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

This love goes deeper than just loving one’s brothers and sisters. It extends even to our enemies. Jesus says:

Matthew 5:43-48 NLT “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. [44] But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! [45] In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. [46] If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. [47] If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. [48] But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Being perfect; loving even our enemies, is what a true Christian looks like. A true Christian is a true follower of Jesus Christ. Remember what Jesus said about his enemies after being tortured all night long, then hung on a cross?

Luke 23:34 NLT “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

WOW!!! What love!

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. [3] If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”

Yes, even if people can speak in tongues, have all special knowledge, be able to explain all mysteries, have a faith that can move mountains, sacrifice their bodies and give all they have to the poor, but have not love they are nothing God says. Jesus was once asked:

Matthew 22:36-40 NLT “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” [37] Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Jesus says LOVE for God first, then for our neighbors is the most important commandment. May we treat it as such. May we find this commandment to LOVE popping up more and more in our conversations with one another. May it be #1 on our hearts and minds. May we learn to not just look like true Christians but BE true Christians:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NLT “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud [5] or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. [6] It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. [7] Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. [8] Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!”

1 John 4:7-13 NIV “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. [8] Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9] This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. [10] This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. [11] Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. [13] This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.”

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