Nations of Faith

Nations of Faith

Israel was the first nation of faith! The point of the Law and the Tabernacle in the wilderness as GOD revealed them to Moses was so that the descendants of Abraham, the first man of faith after the flood would walk in like faith as GOD established them as the people of His promise to Abraham. Abraham was a man of great faith in GOD whom GOD called His friend.

The fact that the descendants of Abraham could not or would not walk in faith after 430 years of living in Egypt, most of them as slaves, was not because they did not know who GOD was but because they did not know GOD. They did not have a faith relationship with Him, they had a crying out for help relationship.

The 40 years of wilderness allowed the unbelieving generation to die off and prepared the generation of faith to enter the promised land. But, the years of war caused some to lose faith and they desired peace so they stopped serving the will of GOD for them as a nation. This was the result of faithless and unfaithful persons, families and tribes which began with Achan at Ai, their second battle, and it continued until their destruction by the Romans in 90AD.

A large part of Jesus’ earthly ministry to Israel was to restore their faith in GOD as their Heavenly Father, knowing that for the most part they would not and that they would be destroyed as a nation and remain scattered for 1,858 years.

The United States of America is the second nation of faith! GOD gave Christopher Columbus a vision of the world being round and that he could sale west and not fall off the edge of the earth. In 1492 he followed the vision that GOD gave him and discovered the New World. Less than 284 years later the English colonies in America declared their independence from the oppressive rule of England.

This followed almost 200 years of colonization by both secularist and Christians, many of those who rebelled under the oppressive rule of the English government did so because of their faith in GOD and their belief in the right to live according to the teachings of the Bible. The new United States of America formed their government and rules of law based on the teachings of the Bible making it the second and at that time the only nation of faith.

In the last 70 years, the length of time since Israel became a nation the United States of America has declined as a nation of faith.

There are now two nations of faith, Israel and the USA, both of which are as much secular as they are of faith based. While there are other nations that have a Christian faith based government and/or society their world wide influence remains small. But both Israel and the USA are under attack from the universalist nations that dominate the earth today. These nations want a single or one world government, thought most do not understand that this will be the government of the anti-christ. Only the elite of the one world movement understand the truth and believe that they can prevent the return of Christ by ruling the world. This is the deception that the devil whispers in the ears of those who are vain, greedy and self-appointed.

As believers in Jesus Christ as the messiah or savior of humanity it is our responsibility to be light and salt and to bring the truth of GOD’s eternal Kingdom to those who live in the darkness of the deception that will destroy them. We are not saved to wait and go to Heaven someday, we are saved to do the will of GOD in the earth as it is in Heaven. The will of GOD is the preparing of the Bride of Christ to reign with Jesus for eternity from the new Heaven and new Earth in the new Jerusalem. Not everyone will be part of GOD’s eternal Kingdom, most in fact will reject salvation and end up in eternal damnation.

So what is the point? The point is to share and teach as many people as possible the truth of salvation in Christ Jesus to deny satan as many souls as possible by bringing them out of the darkness of death in to the light of life.

Jesus is the Light, the Life and the Love that redeems from death to life. The great commission is to take the truth of the Gospel to the whole world and Jesus is the Truth. The Gospel is the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Fruit

Fruit

We are to produce the fruit of GOD’s Kingdom by abiding in Christ Jesus! “I Am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

We can have useless fruit in our lives; fruit that is not resulting in treasures being built up in Heaven. “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Either make the tree good and its fruit good or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.” (Matthew 7:18, 12:33)

We can have wheat and tares growing in our life. “Let both grow together until the harvest and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” (Matthew 13:30)

We can produce fruit in our life that is a blessing to ourself and our family but has no spiritual or eternal value; tastee and satisfying but not nourishing.

Abiding and being fruitful is the work of Holy Spirit in our life but we must participate; being fruitful is not a spectator sport. We have to not just ask for forgiveness, but we have to get the bad habits out of our life and incorporate the good habits of GOD’s Kingdom into our life; this is repentance.

“Father, dig up the soil around me, fertilize and water me so that I will produce the fruit of Your Kingdom. Father, forgive me for producing fruit that is under developed, that is not nourishing or good for seed for me, my family, the Church or the world. If it is not the fruit of Your Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance – cut it from my life. Father, cut down the trees in my life that produce false good fruit (fruit that meets the world’s standard of success) and cut down the trees in my life that produce bad fruit. Father, prune the good but weak fruit in my life to bring good, healthy fruit to harvest and produce in me the humility of wheat so the tares can be reaped and burned.”

Study Matthew 3:4-12, 6:18-21 & 24, 7:15-23, 12:33-37, 13:24-30 & 36-43, 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14 & 20-24; Luke 3:7-14, 13:6-9; John 15:1-17; Galatians 5:18-26

Faith Is Works

Faith Equals Works

Works Require Faith

We all understand the principle of faith and works it is well taught by James and expressed by Paul. What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (James 2:14, 26; Hebrews 11:1) Paul defines faith and James defines the relationship between works and faith; that is the way we generally view these passages.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of GOD, not of works lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) This seems to contradict the previous scriptures, but it does not when you read the whole section of this letter to the Ephesians (in context).

If we believe that Hebrews 11:1 is the definition of faith and that James teaches the works of faith how do we answer his question in verse 14, Can faith save him? Yes, of course it does. We understand that the works referred to in Ephesians 2 are works that would prepare us for salvation; stopping our bad habits, start going to church, stuff that we do of our own accord so that GOD will like us and be pleased with us. The fact is that we cannot do anything that will make GOD love us more or want to save us more than He already does. For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven where neither moth not rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 7:19-21) So if we are saved by faith not by works and faith without works is dead and works without faith are dead how do we build up treasures in Heaven?

What then is the balance of faith and works? We know that we cannot do anything to save ourself, we must come to GOD as we are; a sinner who cannot or will not change and only the power of the Gospel of Christ can save us. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of GOD to salvation to everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of GOD is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17) So it is by faith that we do the works of salvation that will change us. Therefore my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is GOD who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13) What are the works of salvation?

This is where we have to know what Jesus said and taught, He taught us to pray for the will of GOD, “Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Not everyone who says to Me,’ LORD, LORD’, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me. Truthfully, I say to you, he who believes in Me the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. If you keep My Commandments you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (Matthew 6:10, 33; 7:21; John 5:12, 38, 15:10)

So we are saved by faith through grace not by our own works or will, we are to do the will of the Father – the works of His Kingdom in the earth and not our own, and we are to keep Jesus’ commandments. Grace, faith, works (will) these work together not separately if we are going to work out our own salvation which is a gift from GOD through grace in fear and trembling then it must be done by keeping Jesus’ commandments which is to do the will (works) of GOD.

Why with fear and trembling? “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me you who practice lawlessness.’ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 7:23, 10:28)

What are the works of GOD that we are to do to build up treasure in Heaven? What did Jesus do? Only what He saw the Father doing. What did Jesus say? Only what He heard the Father saying. Why is this so hard for us? It is work sometimes hard, messy, painful work. It requires the surrender of our will (desires) to the Father’s will. It requires a public presence and statement of faith in Jesus by our obedience. It is scary!

In the 1960’s and 70’s during the Jesus and Charismatic movements many of the opponents and resisters of Christianity claimed Christianity was for weaklings, that it was like a crutch. That of course is not true, even in a country like the USA where Christianity is mostly excepted and persecution is minimal Christians are still ridiculed, mocked and treated with distain by many. But the hardest and messiest part is the personal changes we have to apply to our life (repentance). Repentance is not just asking for forgiveness but it is the process through testing, trials and persecutions of taking up our cross and following Jesus – dying to self to live for Jesus or be like those in Matthew 7:21-23

The cross was the will of the Father for Jesus and it is the will of the Father for us! When He had called the people to himself with His disciples He said, “Whoever desires to come after Me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34)

Study Matthew 6, 7:21-23, 12:27-31, 13:24-30 & 36-43, 26:36-46, 28:16-20; Mark 8:34-38, 14:32-42, 16:14-18; Luke 12:4-7, 22:39-46, 24:44-49; John 3:14-21, 11:17-27, 14:7-18, 17:1-5; Acts 1:4-8; Romans 11:1-10; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; Ephesians 2:1-10; Philippians 2:12-18; Hebrews 11:1-12:2; James 1:21-27, 2:14-26.

Psalm 87

Psalm 87

A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.

His foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you O city of GOD! (Selah) “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me; Behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia: ‘This one was born there.’” And of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her; and the Most High Himself shall establish her.” The LORD will record when He registers the peoples: “This one was born there.” (Selah) Both the singers and the players on instruments say, “All my springs are in you.”

This was written to the Israelites but it also applies to the Church, those who are born again not by natural birth of the blood line of family; but those born of spirit and water by the blood line of Jesus into His family. This is exclusive: everyone is invited but not everyone is chosen.

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from GOD; for no one can do these signs that You do unless GOD is with Him.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you, be very assured unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of GOD. …  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. GOD did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of GOD.” (John 3:1-21)

Jesus said, “I saw satan fall like lightning from Heaven, listen carefully, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20) He made a point that our spiritual birth, being born again, was recorded in Heaven in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Before the foundation of the earth was laid, Jesus was crucified so that every person ever born and who will be born can be saved. Jesus did everything necessary for us to be saved but we have to except the invitation and fulfill the requirements. Requirements? Yes, requirements!

Jesus was clear that being saved is not just saying a prayer and then waiting to die and go to heaven, or saying a prayer and then doing whatever we want for the rest of our life. Jesus said such controversial things as, “If anyone loves Me he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My Words; and the Word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. … Most truthfully I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. … I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6, 12, 23-24)

 “I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit. … As the Father loved Me I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you that My joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:1-2, 10-12)

Study Psalm 91; Isaiah 54:1-17; Matthew 7:21-23, 22:1-14, 25:31-46; Luke 10:1-24; John 1:1-34, 3:1-21, 14, 15:1-17; Revelation 1, 2, 3, 13:1-10, 20:11-15, 21:22-27

Get a red letter edition of the Bible and study what Jesus said!

Study what the Apostles wrote to the first believers in the Epistles, remember they only had the Old Testament to study and quote. But, like them we also have Holy Spirit to remind us of everything Jesus said. That is why we have the New Testament, other than the Gospels and Revelation the writers did not know they were writing for us today so that we would know how to live and do the works of Jesus’ Kingdom in the earth as it is in Heaven.

Take Up Our Cross

Jesus told us to take up our cross and follow Him!

Not the cross of complaining and bitterness over our situation.

But the cross of yieldedness and obedience.

Not the cross of resentment or envy towards the success of others, whether good or bad.

But the cross of humility and servant hood.

Not the cross of desire and lust for success and peace.

But the cross of being conformed to the image of Christ!

Ain't No Skin Off My Back!

This afternoon while I was doing nothing in particular a phrase that I have not thought of for a very long time came into my head. Some of you may have heard it even though it is a very old saying. “Ain’t no skin off my back!”

As I remember its general meaning it has to do with not caring about, being bothered by, or affected by the words or actions of another person. Like, “Seth, I heard your brother robbed the bank.” Seth says, “Well, that ain’t no skin off my back, but if the cops are chasing him he better not come here.” My wife Charlene thought it was related to being whipped like a slave.

What I thought about was that it was literally the skin off Jesus’ back! When we read in Isaiah and Peter that “By His stripes we are healed.” do we really understand what that means? When we read in the gospels that the Romans scourged or chastised Him before He was crucified do we really understand what that means? I know that some have taught what those statements mean and I am not going into the gory details.

What I thought about was that His giving the skin off His back for us came in the middle of what he experienced that day. At about the time of the morning that He was scourged He had been up about 24 hours. He had been arrested during the night and all His disciples abandoned Him, He was taken to Annas the father-in-law of the High Priest where He was questioned and open handed slapped in the face. Then sent to Caiaphas the High Priest where He was questioned then mocked and blasphemously spoken of, He was beaten, blindfolded and struck in the face and asked, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?” While this was happening Peter denied Him three times. Then He was taken to Pilate where He was accused, questioned and sent to Herod. At Herod’s He was expected to perform miracles then He was accused, mocked and treated with contempt and sent back to Pilate. Then He was accused and rejected by the people for a murderer, he was mocked by the Romans who put a crown of thorns on His head and struck Him with their hands, they hit Him with a reed type rod. Then He was scourged, this is done by one or two Roman soldiers who had whips that had up to nine leather straps and each strap had a piece of broken glass, or a broken bone, or a piece of metal and He was beaten with them thirty nine times where the skin (flesh) was literally ripped off His back, from His shoulders to His buttocks and down both sides of His body. Then they put a purple robe on Him and paraded Him before the people who again rejected Him and cried out, “Crucify Him!” Then He was paraded through the streets of the city with a stranger carrying His cross to Golgotha where He was crucified. He was nailed to the cross then hung on the cross for 6 hours, from the 3^rd to the 9^th hour of the day. While He hung there He was mocked by the people passing by and the religious leaders. Then He felt abandoned by GOD because of our sins that were applied to His life in our place and then He died.

Psalm 81

Psalm 81

A Psalm of Asaph – A Prophecy

:1-4 Asaph is calling the nation of Israel to worship GOD according to the statute for Israel.

“Sing aloud to the GOD our strength; make a joyful shout to the GOD of Jacob. Raise a song and strike the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the lute. Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, at the full moon, on our solemn feast day. For this is a statute for Israel, a law of the GOD of Jacob.”

:5 The transition from Asaph speaking to GOD speaking.

“This He established in Joseph as a testimony, when He went throughout the land of Egypt, Where I heard a language I did not understand.”

:6-16 The prophecy.

“I removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from the baskets. You called in trouble and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you in the waters of Meribah. (Selah) Hear, O My people and I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me! There shall be no foreign god among you; nor shall you worship any foreign god. I Am the LORD your GOD who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide and I will fill it. But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels. Oh that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD would pretend submission to Him but their fate would endure forever. He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the Rock I would have satisfied you.”

First GOD reminds Israel what He did for them in Egypt, then admonishes them that He is their only GOD, reminds them that they rejected Him so He let them have their way, He reminds them that if they listen to Him and serve Him He sill defeat their enemies even though there are haters of GOD among them whose fate is sealed, yet He would provide for their needs.

Does this not sound like the Church today? We have many false gods that we serve (Selah) doctrines, worship, prosperity, denominations, non-denominations and others. There are haters in the Church who seek to undermine the faith of others by casting doubt and unbelief. Yet GOD’s mercy is for all humanity, His blessing is for the believer and the unbeliever.

Search your own heart (Selah).

Do you go to church because the music is great, they have cool activities for the kids, they have a great coffee – snack bar to sit around in after service and visit with your friends; because the pastor is really cool and they never talk about things like the blood of Jesus and bearing your own cross and other religious stuff?

Or do you go because it is a requirement to get GOD’s blessings and get into Heaven someday; it fills you with peace that you are doing the right thing even if it is not always pleasant or convenient?

Or do you go because you love GOD and what He is doing in your life and family, you love to join in worship of Jesus, you love to be taught from the Bible and you love to fellowship with other believers; you want to make a difference in your community and place of work for GOD’s Kingdom no matter that it cost your whole life?

The Conflict of the Church

The Conflict of The Church

What is the conflict of the Church? It is the difference between the will of GOD and what we want!

Psalm 80 is a testimony of Asaph; it speaks of GOD’s judgment against Israel and calls for His mercy to restore them. Verses 17-19 say, “Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, upon the son of man whom You have made strong for Yourself. Then we will not turn back from You; revive us and we will call upon Your name. Restore us, O LORD GOD of hosts; cause Your face to shine and we shall be saved!”

In 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 the LORD told Solomon, “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain or command the locusts to devour the land or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

This is the same conflict we have in the Church today; many quote 2 Chronicles 7:14 but live Psalm 80:17-19, if He blesses us we will not turn away from Him (17); if He revives us we will call upon Him (18); if He restores us and blesses us we will be saved. This is the opposite of what GOD told Solomon that we should do when His judgment is upon us, humble ourselves, repent and call upon Him – then He will forgive and heal and restore us.

This is the difference between those whom He calls by His name and those who call themselves by His name. Matthew 7:21-23 also makes this distinction when Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, LORD, LORD shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Because, He had already said in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve GOD and mammon (riches).”

That is the difference between those who practice Psalm 80, bless us and we will serve You and those who practice 2 Chronicles 7, seek Me and I will bless You. Jesus told us the same thing in Matthew 6:25-34 summed up in the often quoted verse 33, “But seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” Remember those things are the necessities of life not the treasures.

This is the problem we have with parables of the Kingdom, like Matthew 13:44, “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” This is like everyone of us, we are all going through life trying to find out how to become anything from comfortable and liked to rich and famous then one day we find it (really He reveals Himself to us). So Jesus said that parables were for those who have ears to hear to understand and that those who do not have ears to hear will not understand, He also said He would give us His Spirit (Holy Spirit) to remember and understand everything He said.

So here is how I understand this parable; a man is walking through a field and finds a hidden treasure, we do not know why he was in the field of how he found the hidden treasure because they are not important facts. He then goes and sells all that he has and buys the field so that he can possess the treasure. How is that like us or how do we relate to this parable?

First we are all going through life looking for its treasures, hoping to find that one that will fulfill and satisfy us in every aspect of our life. If we find it, it is usually an accident on our part. Most of us in our testimony tell of finding the LORD, the reality is that He was not lost we were and He knew where we were the whole time, He was just waiting for us to enter the correct field and stumble across Him, the hidden Treasure. When this happens many of us hide the Treasure in our heart and only start to make it know to others later after we are sure it’s the real thing.

And what is the price of this Treasure, everything, our whole life! We are to give our life to GOD, spirit, soul and body to do His will and proclaim Jesus as the Treasure.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for being a seeker of the things of this life rather than a seeker of Your eternal Kingdom. I want to do Your will since You made me for Your good pleasure. Teach me Your ways as You conform me to the image of Christ, my LORD and savior.

GOD IS!

About 3AM today as I was praying I starting thinking about the fact that GOD is; He is Light. He is Life. He is Love. He is Truth. He is Just. He is Righteous. He is Holy. He is Mercy. He is Kind. He is One. He is Triune. He is Omnipresent. He is Omniscience. He is Omnipotent. He is immutable. He is Invisible. He is Invincible. He is Eternal. He is The Father. He is The Son. He is the Spirit. He is The Creator. He is Substance. He is Grace. He is Mercy. He is The Communicator. He is Awesome!

All of these are attributes of GOD which is why we see many of them in humanity (we are after all made in His image), they are also names that He calls Himself by as He reveals Himself to us, He is Jehovah Nisi, He is Jehovah Rophe, He is Jehovah Shalom, He is El, He is I AM, He is Elohim, etc.

GOD is not His name it is His Title, He Is GOD! He is the only true GOD and all other gods are the imaginings of humanity. The One True GOD revealed Himself to humanity from the very beginning and He continues to reveal Himself so that humanity will know and understand Him and His reason for creating us.

If you have been a Christian for more than a month than you should know how to look up things in the Bible (if not then shame on those who should be discipling and mentoring you). So, I challenge you to get out your Bible and study aids and look for these names and attributes of GOD then read the surrounding scriptures and see why GOD is revealing Himself and what He is calling those who He is revealing Himself too, to accomplish. Then ask Him to show you how that applies to your life and His purpose for you.

And here is why, Jesus said before He was crucified, “Many are called and few are chosen.” “Narrow is the way that leads to the Kingdom and there are few who find it.” “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” “If you love Me you will keep My commands.” “If you try to save your life you will lose it, if you lose your life in Me you will save it.” “Anyone having put his hand to the plow and looking back is not fit for the Kingdom.” “Take up your cross and follow Me.”

Jesus Lived Purposefully

Jesus Lived Purposefully

He purposely was born as the Son of man

            He purposely was born as the Son of GOD

He purposely obeyed all His parents told Him

            He purposely submitted to His parents

He purposely obeyed all His Heavenly Father told Him

            He purposely submitted to the Will of His Heavenly Father

He purposely went to the Cross to redeem humanity from eternal death

            He purposely overcame temptation and sin in the flesh

He purposely shed His Blood to wash away our sin

            He purposely knew no sin

He purposely rose from the grave on the third day

            He purposely defeated death and hell and took the keys of their domains

He purposely commissioned the Church

            He purposely left the Church in His Heavenly Father’s hands

He purposely ascended to Heaven to be seated at the right hand of GOD’s Throne

            He purposely seated us with Himself above principalities, powers and rulers of darkness

He purposely sent His Spirit – Holy Spirit to comfort, council, teach, correct and bring forth gifts and fruit

            He purposely made us His living temples in the earth – living stones built on Him

He purposely assigned discipeling of the nations and making His enemies His footstool to the Church

            He purposely waits for the Church to complete it’s commission

He purposely will return to defeat satan's plans and bind satan for 1000 years

            He purposely will rule over the earth from Jerusalem with an iron rod for 1000 years

He purposely will allow satan to rebel one more time

            He purposely will defeat all His enemies and destroy the heavens, the earth and the sea

He purposely will judge all His enemies and cast them into the lake of fire – the second death

            He purposely will reward His followers with admittance to His Eternal Kingdom

He purposely will create a new heaven, a new earth and a new Jerusalem

            He purposely will receive His Bride the Church

The Result of Lethargy!

There are many impressive stats of the generosity of the government and the Church of the United States; like we have sent more missionaries of the Gospel of Christ to the rest of the world than the rest of the world has; like we spend more money in all types of aid to other nations than the rest of the world has; like we have more church organizations than the rest of the world has.

So why has the Church not discipled the nation of the United States into the Kingdom of GOD?

Some would say that we have; some do not want us too!

To those who believe that the Church has discipled the United States into the Kingdom of GOD why do we have such open sin and rebellion against GOD? Why do some of our cities have higher murder and crime rates than some nations. Why do our local, state and national law enforcement agencies battle daily against overwhelming odds to keep drugs, human trafficking and crime of all sorts under control?

Why just two years ago was the Church and nation under the very real threat of their demise as we know them today? Because of those who do not want us to disciple our nation into the Kingdom of GOD! Even though they believe they are right, they are evil and the Church has not opposed them!

Overall for the most part the Church, those who claim to be believers in Jesus Christ, has let sin run rampant in every level of our society and government! Why? Because we have let it run rampant in ourself! The Church has as much sin in it as the unbelieving rest of the nation does!

How dare I say that? Well the divorce rate in the Church is reported to be the same (even by Christian agencies) as the unbelieving, many Christian organizations support and protect sexual immorality; adultery, fornication and homosexuality. A couple of years ago I responded to a open letter from a certain religious organization’s youth leader who said that the Bible did not say anything against pre-marital sex and that it was ok (that is fornication). Look at the sexual immorality in the Catholic priesthood and the lack of appropriate response by the leadership. There are many Christian organizations that lack financial integrity, some have faced public and legal exposure, but not all have been exposed. Financial and moral integrity are just the obvious sins, there are those who teach false doctrine as if it is in the Bible. Teachings that put self first in living rather than serving and receiving rather than giving.

How has this happened? It happened because those who want to remove GOD from our nation have slowly and methodically infiltrated every level of society, government and religion in our nation. They have slowly changed the agenda so that their ideology would be the focus and not Christianity.

And the Church not only let it happen we happily joined in! Seminaries produce pastors that do not believe in the divine authority of the Bible and do not teach their congregants to study the Bible on their own. Most who claim to be Christians in America do not know what the Bible actually teaches about morality and integrity for us as individuals, families, communities and as a nation.

Lethargy is the cause and destruction is the result! GOD’s call to the Church in America is to repent! If we just continue on soon the Church will be destroyed and the nation with it.

GOD does and is judging His Church and our nation. Unless the Church repents and takes back our nation there will be no revival only judgment. The United States as a nation discipled into the Kingdom of GOD can be a Christian nation and remain a supporter of Israel even during the reign of the anti-christ in the world. Or we can become just another third world nation under the thumb of the anti-christ and his false prophet doing his bidding against Israel and GOD.

The nation of the United States can only return to and fulfill it’s GOD given destiny if the Church repents of it’s lethargy and sin! Then GOD will bring revival to the Church and then the nation can be discipled into repentance and be revived into GOD’s favor and purpose.

If you believe you are a Christian and do not know what the Bible says because YOU do not read and study it you may not be redeemed. “In that day not everyone who says to me LORD, LORD will enter into My Kingdom. Some will say ‘But, LORD we prophesied in Your Name and we did many mighty works in Your Name.’ And I will tell them, ‘I do not know who you are, away with you who are lawless!’ And there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 7:21-23 my version.

Jesus did not teach the gospel of salvation; asking for forgiveness, being baptized, going to church regularly, giving money and living morally and with integrity; Jesus taught the Eternal Kingdom of GOD! He taught things like “Repent for the Kingdom of GOD is at hand!”; “Seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness!” “The Kingdom is like…” “Stay on the narrow road that leads to eternal life. Many seek it but few find it.” “I do the works of My Father’s Kingdom.” “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of GOD to salvation; for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Romans 1:16 my version. Salvation is just the entrance to GOD’s Kingdom, before we receive salvation we are expected to count the cost, are we willing to give up our life for the life that GOD has for us? Jesus gave many teachings on counting the cost of and the result of believing in and obeying Him.

If you want to be a Christian, Christ like, then you must give up the life of the flesh (the world) and take up the life of GOD and His Eternal Kingdom.

Many who become a Christian to avoid going to hell, or so that they will see a loved one in Heaven but never give up their old life for GOD’s new life for them are just deceived and will be weeping and gnashing their teeth when they stand in judgment before GOD. Some teach “Once saved always saved.” That is true if you are walking in the life GOD has called you too, but if you are still living your own life (lawless) then you might not be saved.

The Bible teaches that, “If you believe with your heart and confess (tell others) with your mouth in Jesus Christ you will be saved.” “That all who believe on Jesus’ name will become the children of GOD.” What does it mean to believe? Jesus said to the Jews, “If you do not believe My words then believe My Works, for I only do the works of My Father in Heaven.”

To be a Christian is not to just believe that Jesus died to take away your sin and to tell others, but to live your life for Him and not yourself. Jesus said “You are my disciple if you keep my commandments.” “People will know you are my disciples if you keep My commandments.” “People will know you are My disciples if you have love one for another.” “I and My Father are one and If you are My disciple you and I are one.” “I only do the works of My Father in Heaven.” “My disciples will do greater works then I do’”

The Kingdom of GOD is not about living a good happy life and then going to Heaven someday. The Kingdom is about doing the works of GOD’s Kingdom in the earth as it is in Heaven. Jesus said, “You must take up your cross and follow Me!” Paul said, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Why with fear and trembling? First because salvation is only the beginning, once we are saved then we must do the works of GOD’s Kingdom and no longer do the works of the world. And because Jesus said, “Do not fear those who can only kill the body; rather fear Him who can destroy both body and soul!” Who would that be? Only GOD the creator of humanity can destroy the soul of a person. But we are the only one that can determine our eternal destination! Do we want to live for our self and lose our life or live for Jesus and even if we die we will live, as Jesus said.

No Sinners in GOD's Kingdom

There is much sin in the Church today! Why do I say that? Because, I see it in people I know who say they are Christian, I see it in Christian TV programs and movies, I see it in Christian social media. There is pride, greed, immorality, a lack of integrity, lying, cheating and stealing, there are those who are opposed to GOD’s agenda, false prophets, wolfs in sheep’s clothing and teachers of false and incorrect doctrine.

It is easy to see sin except when it is in our own life, that is why Jesus said to judge ourself and not others but to help others see their sin (Matthew 7:1-6).

Jesus was clear about what it takes to get into His Eternal Kingdom and what will keep us out. Following are some of those scriptures because we all need to be reminded to judge ourself, remember these are Jesus’ Words and He was talking to or about believers. If you see yourself in any of these then ask for forgiveness and repent of those ways.

All of Matthew 6 and 7

“And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, ‘LORD, are there few who are saved?’ And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘LORD, LORD, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from.  Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of GOD, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the Kingdom of GOD. And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.’” (Luke 13:22-30)

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it…Not everyone who says to Me, ‘LORD, LORD,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23) These are the scariest verses in the Bible.

“Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, ‘LORD, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ The centurion answered and said, ‘LORD, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.’ When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven. But the sons of the Kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.” (Matthew 8:5-13)

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, GOD. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to Him, ‘Which ones?’ Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The young man said to Him, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of GOD.’ When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with GOD all things are possible.’ Then Peter answered and said to Him, ‘See we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory,  you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Matthew 6:19-21; 19:16-30)

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘LORD, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘LORD, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from GOD; for no one can do these signs that You do unless GOD is with him. Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of GOD.’ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of GOD. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus answered and said to Him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to Heaven but He who came down from Heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in Heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For GOD did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of GOD. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in GOD.’” (John 1:1-18, 29-36; 3:1-21)

If you’re not sure then these statements made by Jesus should clear it up.

“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, ‘LORD, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us and not to the world?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” (John 14:21-24)

“And He said to me, ’It is done! I Am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his GOD and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murders, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.…And behold I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I Am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. ‘” (Revelation 21:6-8, 22:12-15)

I say don’t argue with Jesus just obey.

All scriptures are from NKJV