Addendum to "I Married My Dad"

 Jeremiah 7:21-22 ESV

 

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices.’”

 

Nearly three years ago the Lord led me to write a book called, “I Married My Dad.” It is the story of my life, a life of abuse, but of healing and restoration, too. I wrote the book with my husband Rick’s approval. In fact, he wrote the forward for the book. And he knows I am writing this now, too.

 

I lived with my parents until I was age 22.5, and then I have been married to my husband for 48.5 years. Both my dad and my husband were/are sexual addicts. My dad never changed before he died, as far as I know. And my husband has not yet let go of his idols, and he has not yet committed himself to our marriage and to the Lord, although he claims to many times.

 

He can be good about helping with meals, dishes, housework, grocery shopping and other domestic chores (he is retired now 4.5 years). And most of the time he is a generally pleasant person, someone who likes to tease with people, and who people generally find amiable. He likes to do things for other people, too, and he is generally a generous person.

 

And the thing of it is, I still love him. I can still look back at our wedding pictures, even knowing what I know now, and still have a fondness in my heart for those memories of when I thought things were good with us. Even after all he has put me through, I still am holding out hope for him to be delivered from his addiction and for our marriage to be healed.

 

But right now, he is not willing to do that, although he will claim he is, but his actions speak louder than his words. He is good at performance and at doing things for me that are helpful, and I thank him, and I praise him for all that he does to be helpful and cooperative and not combative with me.

 

But when the Lord commands his people to love him, and when he tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, he is not looking for formalities or for only what his people are willing to sacrifice to him while they hold on to their idols and refuse to love him as he requires.

 

I appreciate the things my husband does for me, don’t get me wrong, but if they are being done as a cursory sacrifice in hopes that I will feel that he loves me while he refuses to be faithful to me and to love me as his wife, then that isn’t love, and God doesn’t see it as love, either.

 

Jeremiah 7:23 ESV

 

“But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’”

 

The Lord sets the standard for what it means to love others, and for us who are Christians, the standard is that we must obey the Lord (1 Jn 2:3-6). For, if we are not obeying him, as a matter of our daily practice, then we don’t know him, and we don’t love him, and we don’t have eternal life in him.

 

Obviously, my husband does not have to obey me, but as one who has claimed to be a believer in Jesus for most all of his life, he is to obey the Lord. And in obeying the Lord he will leave his idols (his other lovers) behind him, he will forsake his sins and his adulteries, and he will be faithful to me and to the Lord. The Lord will be his master, and he will lead me spiritually.

 

But this is not about perfection. This is about repentance, obedience, and submission to the Lord as his life course, daily by the Spirit putting the deeds of the flesh to death, resisting Satan, fleeing temptation, saying “NO!” to ungodliness and fleshly lusts, and living a self-controlled, upright and godly life while he waits for Christ’s return (Tit 2:11-14; Rom 6:1-23).

 

Jeremiah 7:24-26 ESV

 

“But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day. Yet they did not listen to me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.”

 

My husband will say that he tries to be good and to not do what he knows he ought not to do, and he will claim that he really wants to be free from his idolatry, his adulteries and his addiction to sin, but his words say it. He is the one trying to figure it out. But he can’t figure it out. He is still in the driver’s seat, although he claims he tries to give God control of his life.

 

He says he spends time with the Lord in the word and in prayer, but that the Lord is not showing him what to do, but the Lord has shown him what he needs to do hundreds of times. He is not lacking for knowledge. He is lacking in the doing category, being a doer of the word and not a hearer only.

 

So many people who are addicted to sin but who say they want to follow Jesus with their lives make many excuses for why they are not living in victory over sin and for why they keep holding on to their idols and for why they keep repeating the same habitual sins over again, but their excuses do not hold water. God said we are all without excuse (Romans 1:18-32).

 

If we do not walk in obedience to our Lord as our life course, but we walk in our own counsels repeatedly with the same results every time, then we are not doing so out of ignorance or because God just isn’t helping us. We do so with full knowledge that what we are doing is wrong and we choose willfully to disobey the Lord and to cheat on spouses and to abuse relationships.

 

God does not accept the same lame excuses over again for why those who claim faith in him are still walking in sin and are not living in victory over darkness in the Spirit of God. He sees such habitual, willful, and deliberate disobedience as stubbornness of evil hearts not willing to obey the Lord.

 

And when we profess faith in Jesus Christ, but we willfully and deliberately keep on in our sinful course or we return to our evil course after making a profession of faith in Jesus, and we go backward and not forward, he sees this as willful rebellion against him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.

 

Please understand here that I am not saying these things to put my husband down or so you will think badly of him or so you will feel sorry for me. If that were my goal, such writings as these would have been much more frequent than they have been. I care about my husband, I love him, and I want to see him be free before he dies.

 

So, if you are reading this, please pray for him and for us and for our marriage. So far, I still don’t see him listening, for the Lord has spoken to him on these matters many times, but he has gone his own stubborn way, instead, and he has resisted the Spirit and my pleas to him to please surrender his life to the Lord and to be faithful to God and to me.

 

And if you are living the life that he has been living, still in bondage to sin, still holding on to your idols, still unrepentant and still living in unfaithfulness to the Lord and to your spouse (if you have one), then I pray you will repent of your sins today and surrender your life to Jesus, too.

 

And last but not least, if you are like me and you are married to someone who is an unfaithful partner, who chooses his/her “other lovers” over you, but you have remained faithful, have withstood the abuse, and you have continued to love your spouse, then you are blessed, so be encouraged.

 

All Through the Night  

 

An Original Work / December 7, 2013

Based off Various Scriptures

 

Blessed are you when you’re persecuted

Because of your faith in Jesus Christ.

Blessed are you when people insult you,

And falsely say what leads folks to doubt.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is

Great in the heavens. You’re not alone.

 

When you are persecuted in one place,

Flee to another. God will be there.

You will be hated by all the nations

Because you testify of God’s grace.

Many will seize you and persecute you,

And put to death the foll’wers of Christ.

 

Yet, do not fear what humans may do to you,

For I’m with you all through the night.

I tell you, love your enemies with my love,

And forgive as I forgave you.

Pray for those who do evil against you.

Rest in my love and grace from above.

 

https://vimeo.com/379481617

 

Saved from Captivity

The setting of this, as translated to our day and time: Many people who profess the name of Jesus Christ are living in open idolatry and spiritual adultery against their Lord God. God, in his great love and mercy, has been confronting his rebellious people with their sins of idolatry and spiritual adultery, warning of judgment, and calling them to repentance.

 

But the vast majority are not listening. They are not heeding the warnings. Many even despise these warnings, and they despise the messengers through whom these warnings come. And, thus, they persecute and perhaps even kill the Lord’s servants and witnesses.

 

God has been warning them, as well, against putting their trust in humans, because there are many liars and deceivers throughout the world who are leading God’s people astray. Yet, many are not listening. They are not heeding the warnings, and they are continuing to put their trust in humans over God.

 

They are not testing what they hear, read and see, in prayer, and against the word of God, and in spiritual discernment and wisdom, but they are going their own stubborn way, some even vehemently refusing to even consider that what they are believing and trusting in could be false, and that they might well be deceived. So, God, who keeps his word, is bringing against them the judgments he promised.

 

Jeremiah 46:27-28 ESV

 

“But fear not, O Jacob my servant,

    nor be dismayed, O Israel,

for behold, I will save you from far away,

    and your offspring from the land of their captivity.

Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease,

    and none shall make him afraid.

 

“Fear not, O Jacob my servant,

declares the Lord,

    for I am with you.

I will make a full end of all the nations

    to which I have driven you,

    but of you I will not make a full end.

I will discipline you in just measure,

    and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”

 

The Captivity

 

The captivity that the adulterous and rebellious church is in today is captivity to the lies and deceptions of man. They have been listening to and following after those lies for many generations.

 

In America, we were lied to from birth, given the impression that our government was next to godliness. And we were taught, with hand over heart, to vow fidelity (pledge allegiance) to our government, and we were told our nation was one nation under the one true God.

 

This undying allegiance (worship) to our government was forced upon us both in our public schools and within the gatherings of the church. Any institutional church I attended over my lifetime pretty much all displayed the American flag at the front of the sanctuary (worship center).

 

We were also taught to sing patriotic songs which were also songs of worship to our government, and we were taught that our military were our heroes, and that they were the ones keeping us safe and protecting our freedoms, and so we honored them in church gatherings, too.

 

Thus, we were taught never to question our government leaders but to give them our undying loyalty. And many of us were raised to believe everything the news media said, too, never thinking that they could be lying to us, for why would they? I mean, the news is the news, right? No! Wrong!

 

We were taught a system of government early on that impressed upon our young minds that it was to be trusted fully and never doubted. Now, maybe I am the exception to the rule, but I don’t think so, but I believed in the system, that it was sanctioned by God, and so I did what they said to do.

 

When I became old enough to vote, I voted in the elections. I chose the political party of my parents’ choosing, believing they were the “good guys,” like America was the “good guys,” too. With only one exception, thus, I always voted a straight party ticket. And I believed my vote mattered.

 

Eyes Opened

 

But then the Lord began to open my eyes sixteen years ago, and I began to see that the US government were not the “good guys” of the world, going around doing good to the people of this world, but that they were the world’s terrorist organization going around the world overtaking other nations.

 

I learned that Republican and Democrat don’t exist, but that they are just two sides of the same whole acting out their various roles, and that they are not the true government of the USA, but that a shadow government of the elite of the world are the de facto government of the US.

 

Thus, I learned that all our elections are fixed, and that they decide who is going to sit in the White House as their puppet, so my vote doesn’t count, and I really have no choice, so this isn’t the government I thought it was, and our military are not our heroes but they are doing evil to other nations.

 

I learned, too, that our government fakes scenarios, and the news media fakes news, and that they create false flag situations that hurt their own people, but they set it up to cast the blame on someone other than themselves. So, they are not for us, but against us – all of them.

 

And more lately I have seen the same modus operandi at work in the US as what the US and their allies were doing in overtaking many other nations of the world over a span of many years, and with the goal to bring us all under the rule of a one world totalitarian government of the “beast.”

 

So, this is why the Lord is saying to his people, “Don’t put your trust in man! Put your trust in God, and in God alone!”

 

But this isn’t just about putting our faith and trust in our government and in the news media, but it is also about putting faith and trust in preachers and teachers of the Word who are teaching what is false, and what is contrary to God and to his word.

 

Much of the church in America has also fallen prey to the deceptions of preachers and teachers who are convincing them that they can believe in Jesus, have heaven guaranteed them when they die, but that they don’t have to repent of sin, obey the Lord, or submit to Christ as Lord.

 

And again, even though the Lord has been pointing these things out to his people, and he has been calling them to repentance and to renewed faith in him, many have continued on in their sinful ways and they have continued to put their trust in man over God.

 

So, the Lord is allowing his church to go through some serious difficult times now because the majority refused to listen to him and to heed his warnings. So, their trust in man is going to backfire on them. We are already seeing much of the truth coming out into the open, and we are seeing where this is all headed, but it will get worse in the days to come, most assuredly.

 

But we are not to fear what is coming, for it is for our good, to get us spiritually ready for our Lord’s return. But we are to surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, submit to him as Lord, forsake our sins, and follow him in obedience, putting our trust in him alone, and not in man.

 

Do Not Fear  

 

An Original Work / June 2, 2013  

Based off John 14

 

Do not let your hearts fear.

Trust in God. Trust in Christ.

“In My house you will find

Many rooms I have

Prepared for you,

And I will come back

And take you to heav’n.”

 

“I will take you to be with Me;

You’ll be where I am.”

 

“I am the way and

The truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father,

Except he comes through Me,

So put your faith in Me,

And do all of what I command.”

 

“Whoever has My commands

And obeys them loves Me.”

 

“I did not leave you as orphans.

I sent you the Counselor;

The Holy Spirit to live in you.

He teaches you all things,

And He reminds you of Me.”

 

“My peace I give to you,

So do not fear, trust in Me.”

 

https://vimeo.com/116484386

Don't Let Them Persuade You

2 Peter 3:13-14 ESV

 

“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

 

“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.”

 

There is a day coming when the Lord will judge the earth and the people of the earth, and the universe as we know it will be destroyed with fire, and the ungodly will be destroyed. This is at the end of all things in this world that we now know, and in which we now live.

 

But prior to that time, or leading up to that time, we are going to go through some very trying times which will test our faith to the limit. The Lord warned us ahead of time about these days, which really began with his life on this earth, for he said that as he was hated and persecuted, so we would be.

 

He warned us that we would be hated, rejected, persecuted, falsely accused, falsely arrested and imprisoned, beaten mercilessly, mocked, called crazy, accused of being of Satan, harassed at every turn, and attempts would be made to try to trip us up, too, just as his persecutors did to him.

 

So, we should not think that we will escape such persecution, for we are told in Scripture that we are called to this type of suffering, and that suffering is part of the Christian life and witness, and that we will have to endure such suffering for righteousness’ sake, but that we who endure will be blessed.

 

Thus, we are encouraged to live godly and holy lives while we wait for the Lord’s return, at which time we (the godly) will go to be with him forever, but at which time the earth will also be destroyed. So, we are to be diligent to be found in Christ when he returns as those whose lives are unblemished (untainted) by the sinful practices of this world.

 

2 Peter 3:15-16 ESV

 

“And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”

 

So, if all there is to salvation is that we are forgiven our sins so that we escape hell and so that we go to heaven when we die, but that how we live will not impact our eternal security or our eternal destination, then why do we have so many Scriptures warning us of the importance of how we are living at the time of Christ’s return?

 

It is because our eternal salvation is not guaranteed on a profession of faith in Jesus Christ or a one-time experience in our lives where we declared faith in Jesus Christ. We are saved (past), we are being saved (present) and we will be saved (future) when Christ returns IF we continue in Christ to the end (1 Co 15:2; Col 1:21-23; 2 Tim 2:10-13; Heb 3:6, 14-15; Rom 11:17-24).

 

Thus, while we wait for Christ’s return, we are to be those who are saying “No!” to ungodliness and fleshly lusts, and who are living self-controlled, upright, and godly lives. And we are to be walking (conducting our lives) according to (in agreement with) the Holy Spirit, and not in agreement with the flesh (Tit 2:11-14; Rom 8:1-17).

 

For, if we claim to know Christ and to be in fellowship with him, but we walk (conduct our lives) in darkness (sin, wickedness), and we do not obey the truth of God’s word, then we do not have eternal life with God no matter what we have confessed with our lips, or we think we have believed in our hearts (Rom 8:1-17; 1 Jn 1:5-9; Lu 9:23-26; 1 Jn 2:3-6; Gal 5:16-21).

 

So, we are to regard the patience of the Lord, in not yet coming to destroy the earth, as salvation, for it gives people more time to get their hearts right with the Lord before he comes to judge. But his patience will not last forever, so don’t get cocky and think you can wait him out, for you never know when you will breathe your last breath.

 

So, what are these matters that Paul talked about incessantly that people twisted to their own advantage? And to their own destruction? Paul insisted that we walk according to the Spirit and that we not walk according to the flesh if we want to have salvation from sin and eternal life with God.

 

But many are cherry picking the words of Paul they like, and they are building a doctrine around those hand-selected verses while they are largely ignoring all the Scriptures where Paul warned the church, the body of Christ, that they must walk in holiness, in the Spirit, to the end, if they want to have eternal life with God.

 

Paul taught conditional salvation, just as Jesus did, and the conditions are that we forsake our sins and submit to Christ and that we walk in obedience to his commands, and that we love God and others and not hate.

 

2 Peter 3:17-18 ESV

 

“You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

 

Lawless people are those today who are teaching that we can be saved from our sins and have eternal life with God guaranteed but that we don’t have to repent of our sins, submit to Christ, or obey his commandments.

 

They twist the Scriptures by trying to say that if we live in obedience to our Lord that we are trying to earn our own salvation, and so they guilt-trip people into denying the Lordship of Christ over their lives, to continuing to live in sin, and to living lives of disobedience to God.

 

But don’t fear them. Test everything that they say against the Scriptures (in context), for the Scriptures do not teach what they teach. The Bible teaches we must repent of our sins, submit to Christ as Lord, and walk in obedience to his commands if we want eternal life with God (Lu 9:23-26; Rom 8:1-17).

 

Do Not Fear  

 

An Original Work / June 2, 2013  

Based off John 14

 

Do not let your hearts fear.

Trust in God. Trust in Christ.

“In My house you will find

Many rooms I have

Prepared for you,

And I will come back

And take you to heav’n.”

 

“I will take you to be with Me;

You’ll be where I am.”

 

“I am the way and

The truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father,

Except he comes through Me,

So put your faith in Me,

And do all of what I command.”

 

“Whoever has My commands

And obeys them loves Me.”

 

“I did not leave you as orphans.

I sent you the Counselor;

The Holy Spirit to live in you.

He teaches you all things,

And He reminds you of Me.”

 

“My peace I give to you,

So do not fear, trust in Me.”

 

https://vimeo.com/116484386

Both Praise and Persecution

Summary Acts 14:1-18

 

Paul and Barnabas, and perhaps John, too, were being faced with much opposition and persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ and for their testimonies for Jesus and for his gospel of salvation. But they did not let this stop them from proclaiming boldly the word of the Lord.

 

At one point, though, because they had been instrumental in the healing of a man lame from birth, the people tried to make gods out of them. But the apostles immediately responded in all humility, and they let the people know that they were human just like them.

 

“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” Acts 14:15 ESV

 

Thus, the apostles did not take the honor upon themselves, but they gave the honor to God. And they continued to preach the truth of the gospel of our salvation, that people should turn from idolatry to the living God.

 

And, when people praise us, as though what we share comes from ourselves, if truly we are sharing what we have received from the Lord, we need to give the glory back to the Lord, and we need to point them to Jesus, not to ourselves.

 

And what is the "good news" the apostles were proclaiming? It is that we should turn from vain things, from our sins, from our idols, and from love for the things of this world to the Lord, to follow him in surrender and in obedience to his ways (Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17; Eph 4:17-24).

 

Acts 14:19-23 ESV

 

“But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”

 

This reminds me of how the people were praising Jesus one day and a few days later they were calling for his death, saying, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” One day the apostles had people trying to make them into gods, and not long after that, it appears, they had people stoning Paul and leaving him for dead.

 

And we may face similar treatment. One day people may be thanking us and encouraging us in our walks of faith, and then another day they may be blasting us because we said something with which they did not agree. So, we need to be prepared to know how to respond to both praise and persecution.

 

So, even though Paul was stoned nearly to death he continued on in sharing the gospel of salvation to all who would listen. And not only that, but he went right back to where he had been severely persecuted so that he could encourage the saints there to continue in the faith.

 

And his encouragement was not like what a lot of people think of today when they think about people saying nice things to them to make them feel good about themselves, even in their sin. They were honest with them, telling them that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

 

Acts 14:24-28 ESV

 

“Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they remained no little time with the disciples.”

 

When the church gathers together today, is it for the same reasons as in the days of the New Testament apostles? Is it so that we can encourage one another in our walks of faith? Is it so that we can expose the lies for what they are and so we can proclaim the truth? And is it to give glory to God and not to ourselves?

 

Are we about strengthening the souls of other followers of Jesus, encouraging them to continue in the faith, in faithful surrender and obedience to our Lord? And are we sharing with them the truth of what God’s word teaches us, in its fulness? Or are we trying to give them feel good messages to soothe their consciences so they can continue in sin?

 

When the church gathers together, it is not to be for entertainment, fun, jokes, movies, and all that appeals to the flesh. It is to be for the glory of God and for the strengthening of us in our walks of obedience to our Lord.

 

And one man is not to do all the ministering, either. We are supposed to be encouraging one another and using our gifts and callings for the building up of the body of Christ to maturity in Christ and to unity in Christ, not to unity with the flesh of man and marketing schemes.

 

I honestly don’t see this happening much at all face to face, at least not in today’s modern church gatherings. But I am seeing it take place on the internet in the blogging world, on Christian discussion sites, and on some social media. So, for however long this lasts, I praise the Lord for this Christian community on the internet where we can encourage one another.

 

But much of what is called “Christian” these days, or “the church,” is not functioning like the Lord’s body is supposed to function, but are feeding the world with more of the world, and thus many who are following Jesus with sincere hearts are being pushed aside and being told they are not wanted.

 

But the Lord is our healer. Amen! The same God who healed people back in the days of Jesus and of the apostles is still our healer today. So, whether we are suffering emotional or physical pain, the Lord can heal us. He can take what is broken and put the pieces back together and make us whole.

 

Broken and Contrite  

 

An Original Work / May 13, 2012

 

I come before You, Lord, my Savior,

With humble heart and crushed in spirit.

I bow before You, I implore You,

Heal my broken heart, I pray.

Love You, Jesus, Lord, my master,

You are the King of my heart.

Lord, purify my heart within me;

Sanctify me, whole within.

 

Oh, Lord, I long to obey fully

The words You’ve spoken through Your Spirit.

I pray You give me grace and mercy,

Strength and wisdom to obey.

Father God, my heart’s desire,

Won’t You set my heart on fire?

Lord, cleanse my heart of all that hinders

My walk with You, now I pray.

 

Oh, Jesus, Savior, full of mercy,

My heart cries out for understanding.

I want to follow You in all ways,

Never straying from Your truth.

Holy Spirit, come in power,

Fill me with Your love today.

Lord, mold and make me;

Your hands formed me;

Live Your life through me, I pray.

 

https://vimeo.com/118841304

Just Keep Obeying Him

The Body of Christ

 

Probably most of what is called “church” today is not the church, i.e. it is not the body of Christ. For, most “churches,” at least here in America, are man-made institutions, which are businesses, marketed to the world just like any other business. They are physical buildings and denominations, too.

 

The true church, on the other hand, is spiritual, not physical, although it is made up of people who live in physical bodies. But the church itself is a living organism, not a physical organization. And the stones in its construction are not brick and mortar but they are living stones, which are the people of God, with Jesus as our chief cornerstone.

 

These human institutions, thus, do not have Jesus Christ as their head, for they are of man, not of God. I’m not saying that no one gathering with these institutions has Jesus as his or her head, but that the man-made institutions themselves are not the church, and Jesus is not their head.

 

Thus, most of these gatherings are not being led by the Spirit of God but they are being directed by the thinking of man and by marketing books on how to grow their churches and by self-help books and by books written by famous authors, some of whom are not teaching the inspired word of God.

 

Parts of the body of Christ do meet with these businesses of men called “church,” but it is a mixture of the body of Christ and the world. And the way many of these “churches” operate is also a mixture of Scriptural principles and worldly philosophies and business models for how to do “church.”

 

So, since these “churches” are run more like businesses, not many are operating as God intended, nor can they if half or more of their congregations are composed of the people of the world who are not in genuine relationship with the Lord, and thus they are not his body.

 

1 Corinthians 12:14-20 ESV

 

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”

 

When this speaks of body parts such as a foot, hand, head, eye, and ear, this is speaking metaphorically to illustrate a lesson. And the lesson is that we are all different because God made us all different, so we aren’t all going to be exactly the same, and that is a good thing!

 

So, just because we don’t have the same ministry or the same talents or the same gifts as someone else, it does not make us less and them better, or us better and them less. Different is not less or better. It just means we each have different roles (functions, parts) as God has assigned.

 

Each one of us is necessary to the proper working of the body, but this just can’t happen in these institutional (state) churches which are following business models and not the Holy Spirit. This can only happen in the gatherings of the true church which is comprised only of those who have died with Christ to sin that they might live to Christ and to his righteousness.

 

And this can only happen if the leaders of these gatherings of the true church are in tune with the voice of the Holy Spirit and if they are following these Scriptures (all of them) which teach how the body is supposed to function, for most “churches” today are all lopsided.

 

Nonetheless, I have seen the body mostly functioning as God intended, but not in person under the leadership of pastors and elders, but on the internet on social media and on Christian websites and blogs. Here, for now, we have the freedom to use the gifts God has given to us for the building up of the body of Christ to unity of faith and maturity in Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 12:21-26 ESV

 

“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”

 

And here on the internet I am seeing this Scripture in 1 Co 12 being fulfilled, where God is giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there is no division in the body, but that we have equal concern for one another. I see the body life taking place here. But it is not perfect.

 

But when I was attending institutional (state) churches, that was not the case, for the most part. For, they were being run like businesses, and thus their pastors were being trained to run their churches like businesses and to weed out those not on board with their “business model” and to target those who they could get to comply and who they could mold to their image.

 

So, they are definitely being trained to say to parts of the body, “We have no need of you,” and they are encouraging them/us to “go someplace else” where they/we will be “a better fit.” For, we don’t fit with their business model for how to do “church.” I agree!

 

But, since so many of us grew up in these institutional (state) churches, thinking this was “the church,” which it partially was or mostly was in some cases, when we were told they didn’t need us or want us, it was a crushing blow for some of us who had not yet matured to the point in our walks of faith to where we understood that God still had sovereignty over all.

 

So, if this is where you are, and your “church” is telling you that they don’t need you, but you are truly walking with the Lord, so it isn’t that you are living in sin, be encouraged that God is in control and that his body is not limited by these institutions of men. He will provide you a place to serve him. Just seek his guidance and trust him to show you the way.

 

When we follow Jesus with our lives, we will be hated and persecuted as Jesus was, and his persecutors were the religious leaders in the temple of God. So, don’t be surprised if some of your greatest rejection and persecution comes from within these institutional churches, and even from pastors and elders.

 

But since we are all human, know that even if we are meeting with the pure body of Christ outside of these institutions, we can still face rejection and persecution from those who are not walking closely with the Lord. But remember that the Lord is with you and he is still in control, so trust him to work it all out for his purposes and just keep obeying him.

 

All Through the Night  

 

An Original Work / December 7, 2013

Based off Various Scriptures

 

Blessed are you when you’re persecuted

Because of your faith in Jesus Christ.

Blessed are you when people insult you,

And falsely say what leads folks to doubt.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is

Great in the heavens. You’re not alone.

 

When you are persecuted in one place,

Flee to another. God will be there.

You will be hated by all the nations

Because you testify of God’s grace.

Many will seize you and persecute you,

And put to death the foll’wers of Christ.

 

Yet, do not fear what humans may do to you,

For I’m with you all through the night.

I tell you, love your enemies with my love,

And forgive as I forgave you.

Pray for those who do evil against you.

Rest in my love and grace from above.

 

https://vimeo.com/379481617

Enemies of All Righteousness

Acts 14:1-2 ESV

 

“Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.”

 

The Lord called Saul (Paul) and Barnabas for the work of the ministry. Thus, they were sent out by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the word of God both in and outside of the Jewish synagogues (their places of worship). And they had John to assist them (Ac 13:1-5).

 

Immediately they began to face opposition of the kind where someone tried to turn someone else away from the faith.

 

"But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, 'You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?" Ac 13:9-10

 

Wow! Doesn't this speak to today? People are trying to discredit the gospel in hopes of turning others away from the faith. They are enemies of righteousness, full of deceit, and they are making crooked the straight paths of the Lord. Yes, this is happening now in the church.

 

Many people within the gatherings of the church who profess faith in Jesus Christ are teaching a false gospel of grace which requires no repentance, no obedience, and no submission to Christ as Lord. Thus, they give free license to their adherents to continue living in sin only now without guilt.

 

So, they are enemies of righteousness, full of deceit and villainy, who will not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord. Do you see this?

 

But they don’t stop at just turning the gospel upside down, but they are bent on poisoning people’s minds against the true gospel and against its messengers. So, they will call the true gospel “works-based salvation,” and they will call its messengers “legalists,” “intolerant,” and self-righteous.”

 

And they have largely been successful, for this false grace gospel is permeating the church of today and is having a profound influence in getting many people to follow the lie straight to hell, on the promise of heaven when they die.

 

Acts 14:3 ESV

 

“So, they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

 

I have always found this passage intriguing. Paul and Barnabas were being persecuted, people's minds poisoned against them, the opposition was great, and rejection was a sure thing. SO, they remained a long time speaking boldly for the Lord. Amen! May we follow their example!

 

Although our human tendency would be to retreat, as followers of Jesus Christ we must remain steadfast in doing the work God has called us to do despite all opposing forces coming against us. We must strengthen our weak knees in the strength of the Lord and persevere in our calling.

 

God can do amazing things through lives committed to him who trust him fully with their lives and who are willing to step out in faith to do what may get them hated and rejected in return. And sometimes that involves feeling the fear in our emotions but trusting the Lord and going against those fears.

 

For, if we are going to do what God has called us to do in sharing his gospel with the world, in its fulness, we have to be fully ready to face whatever opposition may come against us, and we must be fully ready to keep on in proclaiming the truth of God’s word despite all opposing forces against us.

 

Acts 14:4-7 ESV

 

“But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, and there they continued to preach the gospel.”

 

Sometimes, when we are being persecuted for righteousness' sake, the Lord says to remain and to keep speaking boldly in his name. Other times he says to brush the dust off our feet and to go speak somewhere else. We don’t stop speaking out of fear, but he may relocate us sometimes.

 

But wherever he has us, we must keep speaking the truth of God’s word, because too many people are speaking the lies, and many people need to hear the truth so that they can turn from their sins, follow Jesus in obedience, and submit to him as Lord (master) of their lives.

 

Fully Ready!  

 

An Original Work / June 19, 2013

Based off Acts 20-22, 26; Mt. 28:18-20; Ac. 1:8

 

Why are you weeping and breaking my heart?

I’m fully ready to suffer for Christ.

If I must die for the sake of His name,

I am convinced it will not be in vain.

Glory to God and to His Son Jesus,

Who has redeemed us; bought with His blood.

 

May I speak to you? Jesus came to me;

Asked of me, “Why do you persecute me?”

He said, “Now get up and stand on your feet.

Go, and you’ll be told all I have for you.

I have appointed you as a servant,

And as a witness; you have been sent.”

 

“Go into the world and preach the gospel.

Open the blind eyes. They will receive sight.

Turn them from darkness to the light of Christ;

From power of the evil one to God,

So they may receive forgiveness of sins,

And a place among those who’re in heav’n.”

 

https://vimeo.com/115439432

Pride Says, "My Do It!"

Romans 12:1 ESV

 

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

 

A lot of people reading Ephesians and Romans focus on Paul’s words where he talks about how we are not saved by works but by God’s grace, through faith, which is a gift of God, not of works lest any of us should boast. True, we can do nothing to earn or to deserve our own salvation (Eph 2:8-9).

 

But then many of them deny or they ignore all the other verses in Romans and Ephesians where he says that we will be judged by God according to our works and by whether or not we obey the Lord (Rom 2:6-11; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17; Rom 11:17-22; Eph 5:3-6).

 

Thus, this appeal is not a suggestion or a recommendation. We must give our lives to Jesus as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God because we will be judged by what we do and by how we live. If for ourselves, we will die. But if for the Lord, we will live eternally (Rom 2:6-11; Rom 6:1-23).

 

As followers of Jesus, our lives must be surrendered to the Lord, committed to following him in obedience to his commands and to following him wherever he leads us to do whatever it is he has for us to do. We must leave our lives of sin behind us and daily die to sin and self and live for Jesus.

 

Our bodies are to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, too, for we are not our own. We were bought back for God with the blood of Jesus, so we are to now honor God with our bodies. Thus, we are not to be engaged in any kind of moral impurity, for if this is what we practice, we will not have eternal life with God (Gal 5:16-21; Eph 5:3-6; 1 Co 6:9-10; 2 Co 5:10).

 

Therefore, our spiritual worship of God is not about singing songs and raising hands in the air and/or dancing to the music in an emotional display during a worship service, although music is a big part of our worship. But our lives must be surrendered to the Lord and we must be living in moral purity for it to be true spiritual worship that is acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.

 

Romans 12:2 ESV

 

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

 

Not only must our lives be surrendered to Jesus Christ to doing his will for our lives, living our lives in moral purity as slaves to righteousness and not as slaves to sin, but we must no longer be conformed to the ways of this sinful world. We are not to adopt their philosophies, attitudes, and behaviors into our lives.

 

Thus, what we should be taking into our minds daily, by the choice of our will, should not be what the world is dishing out on a consistent basis, but it should be what comes from the Lord and from purity of devotion to him. It should be Scripture and Bible teaching (tested and true), and spiritual songs of true worship of God and not songs appealing to human flesh.

 

We should not be watching trashy TV shows or movies with filthy language, with immorality, lying, cheating, stealing, and adultery, which give glory to the flesh and to sin and which dishonor the Lord. And we shouldn’t be listening to music and lyrics which promote adultery, immorality, lust, rebellion, and the flesh, either.

 

For, it is true that what we take into our minds goes into our hearts and it comes out through our attitudes, our words, and our actions. And it doesn’t have to be something immoral, either. It could just be about self-indulgence and self-pleasure and playing games and reading novels and just wasting away one’s life with the things of this world.

 

We are to put those things away, and we are to have our minds transformed of the Spirit of God so that we learn to discern the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. We are not going to know God’s will, though, if we are filling our lives and our minds with the junk of this world.

 

Romans 12:3 ESV

 

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”

 

Pride is a major hindrance to giving our lives to the Lord as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to him. And pride stands in the way of us no longer being conformed to the ways of this sinful world, too. For, pride says “My do it!” Pride wants to be the one in control and will not yield to another.

 

Those who hold on to their pride hold on to control of their own lives, and thus they do not surrender their lives to Jesus Christ, and thus their lives are not holy and acceptable to God, for they are still living by the flesh to please the flesh.

 

Therefore, we must all let go of pride and have honest evaluations of ourselves. We must humble ourselves before God, repent of our sins, yield to the Holy Spirit’s control, then walk in the ways of the Lord in the strength and power of God’s Spirit now living within us.

 

And every time pride begins to roar its ugly head, we must squash it by the Spirit of God. We must put it to death, and humble ourselves, and let the Lord have supreme rule over our hearts and lives.

 

We must be willing to see ourselves through the lens of God’s eyes and not through our own. For our own can be faulty. We may be misguided. We might even be deceived. So, instead of stubbornly holding on to pride and going at it according to our own thinking, we need to let the Lord speak.

 

We need to inquire of the Lord as to what he has for our lives and not let ourselves determine our own steps. Since we were bought back for God with the blood of Christ, our lives are no longer our own to be lived how we want. Now we belong to Christ, thus we are to follow him in his ways.

 

When in The Stillness  

 

An Original Work / September 26, 2011

 

When in the stillness of this moment,

Speak to me, Lord, I humbly pray.

Be my desire, set me on fire,

Teach me to love always.

Help me to walk in fellowship with You,

Listening to You; sit at Your feet.

Whisper Your words to me,

Oh, how gently, guiding me in Your truth.

 

While we are waiting for Your blessing,

Lord, in our hearts be King today.

Help us to live for you ev’ry moment,

List’ning to what You say.

May we not stray from your word within us,

Help us obey You, Lord, in all things,

Walking each moment, Lord, in Your presence,

Our offerings to You bring.

 

Help us to love You, Lord, our master;

Be an example of Your love,

Helping the hurting, lift up the fallen,

Showing them Your great love.

Teach them to love You, follow You always,

Bearing their cross and turning from sin;

Walking in daily fellowship with You,

Making You Lord and King.

 

https://vimeo.com/126984144  

Love, Peace and Unity

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV

 

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

 

A Prisoner for Christ

 

Paul was, indeed, a literal prisoner for the Lord, not in prison to sin any longer, though, for there he was set free. But he was serving time in prison for his testimony for Jesus Christ and for his gospel. The same people, or similar people as put Jesus to death on a cross, were against Paul, too.

 

They were opposed to Paul for teaching that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the prophecies in Scripture regarding the Messiah (the Christ) who was to come, and that he is God, the second person of our triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They did not like him teaching on Jesus’ resurrection, either.

 

They also did not like the gospel message that Paul was teaching, which was the same one that John the Baptist, Jesus, and the New Testament apostles taught, although Jesus and his apostles taught much more extensively than did John the Baptist regarding our salvation and eternal life with God.

 

Jesus said that if any of us would be coming after him we must deny self and daily we must take up our cross (die with Christ to sin) and follow him in obedience and in surrender to his will for our lives. If we hold on to our former lives of sin, we will lose them for eternity, but if we die with Christ to sin daily, we will have eternal life with God, he said (Lu 9:23-26; cf. Jn 6:44-58; Jn 15:1-11).

 

Paul reiterated Jesus’ teaching when he said that we are slaves to the one we obey. If it be sin, it leads to death, but if it is obedience, it leads to righteousness and its end is eternal life with God (Rom 6:16-23).

 

He also said that we must walk (conduct our lives) according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh if we want to have salvation from sin and eternal life with God. For, he said, if we walk (in practice) in sin, we will die in our sins. We will not have eternal life with God (Rom 8:1-17; 1 Jn 1:5-9).

 

Thus, Paul was severely persecuted for his walk of faith and for his testimony for Jesus and for his gospel.

 

In a Manner Worthy

 

Persecution for our faith and testimonies for Jesus Christ is God’s way of pruning and disciplining us and purifying us and making us holy. Through the trials we go through he is conforming us to the likeness of his Son, Jesus Christ, if we are surrendered to him, and if we are willing to be changed.

 

Through persecution we move further away from the ways of this world and we draw closer to our Lord when we respond to persecution with faith. Then, God strengthens us in our faith, and he gives us a stronger sense of urgency to proclaim the truth of his word for all to hear.

 

Not only will we now be walking in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called, but we will be urging our brothers and sisters in the Lord to do so, too.

 

And that calling is to righteousness, holiness, godliness, moral purity, truth, obedience, submission to Christ, and the forsaking of our sins, dying with Christ daily to sin and living daily to his righteousness. For this reason, Jesus gave his life up for us on that cross (1 Pet 2:24; 1 Co 6:19-20; 2 Co 5:15).

 

This is how we are to conduct our lives day by day, hour by hour, in the strength and power of God’s Spirit. We are to say “NO!” to ungodliness and fleshly lusts and we are to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Christ’s return (Tit 2:11-14; Eph 4:17-24; Rom 6:1-23).

 

Bearing with One Another

 

But our lives are not just supposed to be about us and God, but we are to be those who love others with God’s love, too. With regard to other believers in Jesus, we are to bear with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

But this is where it gets tricky. First off, not everyone who calls himself a sister or a brother in Christ is one. There are many false professions of faith in Jesus Christ these days based off a false gospel and a false Christ and a cheapened form of God’s grace. So, we must be discerning here.

 

Biblical faith in Jesus Christ dies with Christ to sin and to self and lives to Christ and to his righteousness. The ones believing, therefore, have forsaken their former lives of living for sin and for self, they have been born anew of the Spirit of God, and they are now walking in obedience to the Lord, though not necessarily in perfection (Eph 4:17-24; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17; 1 Jn 1:5-9).

 

Thus, bearing with one another in love is not accepting, condoning, or pacifying willful and deliberate sinning against the Lord. We are compassionate and merciful, surely, knowing our own propensity to sin, but we don’t tolerate sinful lifestyles as part of the walk of faith in Jesus.

 

Also, the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace is unity with the mind and heart of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is not unity with humans and with their marketing schemes on how to build their businesses called “church.” And the bond of peace is absence of hostility against God, not world peace which wants us to compromise our faith.

 

So, know the truth of the gospel. Know what the Scriptures teach regarding salvation and eternal life with God (the whole counsel of God). Understand what they teach regarding who has eternal life and who doesn’t. And pay attention to what they teach on love, unity, and peace.

 

Know the truth, then live the truth by the grace of God and for his glory and praise. Amen!

 

When in The Stillness  

 

An Original Work / September 26, 2011

 

When in the stillness of this moment,

Speak to me, Lord, I humbly pray.

Be my desire, set me on fire,

Teach me to love always.

Help me to walk in fellowship with You,

Listening to You; sit at Your feet.

Whisper Your words to me,

Oh, how gently, guiding me in Your truth.

 

While we are waiting for Your blessing,

Lord, in our hearts be King today.

Help us to live for you ev’ry moment,

List’ning to what You say.

May we not stray from your word within us,

Help us obey You, Lord, in all things,

Walking each moment, Lord, in Your presence,

Our offerings to You bring.

 

Help us to love You, Lord, our master;

Be an example of Your love,

Helping the hurting, lift up the fallen,

Showing them Your great love.

Teach them to love You, follow You always,

Bearing their cross and turning from sin;

Walking in daily fellowship with You,

Making You Lord and King.

 

https://vimeo.com/126984144