Remain Steadfast

Tuesday, January 17, 2017, 10:00 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “My Sheep.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Galatians 5:1-15 (NASB).

Keep Standing Firm (v. 1)

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

What were we, as believers in Jesus Christ, set free from? Well, first of all Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, so we were set free from slavery to sin. We were also delivered from the punishment of sin, which is spiritual death and eternity in the fires of hell. As well, we were delivered from reliance on self, which includes man-made religion and trying to earn our way to heaven by good works. When we believe in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin so that we might live with Christ to his righteousness. The old has gone. The new has come. Jesus doesn’t just clean up our old lives a little. He transforms us away from living for self and sin to walking in his holiness.

So, that brings me to this question: What were we set free to? A lot of people focus solely on what we were saved from, and based on that, they promise us eternal life with God when we die, but is that all there is to it? NO! Jesus didn’t die just so we could be forgiven of our sin, escape hell, and go to heaven when we die. We were set free to be slaves (servants) of Christ’s righteousness. We were saved to obedience to Christ and to walking in his ways and in his truth. We were set free to live godly and holy lives, pleasing to God, no longer conformed to the ways of this sinful world. We were set free to come under the control and rule of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and to be who God planned we should be even before the creation of the world. As well, we were set free to live in God and him in us and to live in love. And, we were set free to rest (trust) in Jesus and not in ourselves.

So, this is to encourage us strongly that we must not return to who we were before we put our hope and faith in Jesus Christ. We must not go back to living for sin and self. We must not return to self-reliance or to man-made religion. We must not go back to living by human standards and values, in order to be accepted and approved by humans, either. We died to sin! How can we live in it any longer? Know this, that if we say we have fellowship with God, but we walk (in lifestyle) in darkness (sin), we are liars, and we don’t have the promise of eternal life (1 Jn. 1:6; Lu. 9:23-25; Ro. 8:1-14).

Fallen from Grace (vv. 2-6)

Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

What did circumcision represent to the people who lived under the law? It was the outward physical sign of the old covenant between God and Abraham and his physical descendants. Yet, when Jesus came, and he died for our sins, and he was resurrected from the dead, then we were brought under a new covenant with God, by faith in Jesus Christ. So, circumcision is no longer required. Now we are sealed with the Holy Spirit who is our deposit guaranteeing the inheritance of those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. And, the outward signs that we are in covenant relationship with God are spiritual in nature, not physical.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (Jn. 13:35). Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples” (Jn. 8:31). “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (Jn. 15:8). “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires,” (Gal. 5:22-24) etc.

So, if we are trying to earn favor with God through following a set of man-made rules and regulations, or through religious ritual and tradition, it will gain us nothing. Christ will be of no benefit to us. And, I am not making these remarks to legalists, only. Today’s modern institutional church is largely based on man-made religion. Even the pastors are being trained in human-based methods for how to grow their “churches,” i.e. their businesses. “Worship” services are often nothing more than Christianized entertainment for the world, and for the worldly professor of faith in Christ. And, “Bible” studies are frequently studies of books written by modern authors who are also following human-based teaching, values and philosophies. And, thus, the gospel is diluted to appeal to the flesh of humans so as not to be an offense.

So, if this is the religion you are following, Christ and his cross is of no benefit to you, either, for your faith is based in human teachings, philosophies and values, instead of in the truth of God’s word.

What is important to God is faith working through love, but not love as humans define it, but as God defines it, which has God as its center, and which values what God values, and prefers what God prefers. God is the moral center of this kind of love which gives of itself freely to meet the legitimate needs (not wants) of others, i.e. it considers what is in their best interest, i.e. what is God’s good for them, and it does not cater to the flesh or to the will of man (humans). Jesus is our prime example of how to love others with this kind of love, which includes speaking the truth in love. So much of what is called love in the worldly church is not God-like love, but is self-love (selfish) and considers self above all others. But God-like love is patient, kind, not proud, not self-seeking, does not keep an accounting of tit-for-tat, and does not act improperly or indecently, etc. (1 Co. 13:4-7).

Who Hindered You? (vv. 7-12)

You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.

So, the question is, “Who is hindering you from obeying the truth?” In other words, who is leading you to follow man-made religion, whether via legalism or libertinism? It could be your pastor, or your church denomination, or it could be a close friend or relative, or a fellow professing Christian. It could also be a TV preacher or evangelist, or a particular website or a blog on the net that you follow. Or, it could be your government, i.e. your political leaders, especially if they claim to be Christians, and if they are preaching ecumenicalism, i.e. “promoting or tending toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation” (M-W); mixed; interreligious.

Yet, this is not speaking of unity of mind or spirit with Christ, but with man. And, it is working its way toward unity of all people regardless of religion or chosen lifestyle. What multiple world leaders are pushing, whether religious or political in nature, is solidarity of all people, the breaking down of all which divides us as the people of the world, and compromise of faith in order to be one with the people of the world. They want the world to hold hands with each other and sing “Kumbaya.” And, Trump is one of them, too.

The cross of Christ is abolished whenever man takes over in place of the Spirit of God and humans decide what we should think, believe and how we should act. So, if you don’t know if you are actually following Christ or human-based religion, then I would encourage you to examine whatever you are being taught in prayer, by the Spirit, and in the Word of God, reading scriptures in context, and comparing scripture with scripture. A lot of what is being taught in today’s church here in America is man-made, and is false, and is misleading, and is leading many people to hell, not to heaven.

Called to Freedom (vv. 13-15)

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

So, in conclusion, we were called to freedom – freedom from sin and self, freedom from human-based religion, and freedom from reliance on self and on human reasoning and logic. We were set free from slavery to sin, so that we could now become servants of Christ’s righteousness, and walk in the Spirit, and no longer according to our flesh. And, we were set free to now put our trust in God and to walk in his ways and in his truth, instead of relying on ourselves or on the teachings of mere humans. God’s grace is not a free license to continue in sin without guilt and without remorse. His grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for Christ’s return (Tit. 2:11-14). Love does no harm to its neighbor, so walk in love.

My Sheep / An Original Work / June 24, 2012

Based off John 10:1-18 NIV

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

They will never follow strangers.

They will run away from them.

The voice of a stranger they know not;

They do not follow him.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Nonetheless whoever enters

Not by the gate; other way,

He is the thief and a robber.

Listen not, the sheep to him.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

The thief only comes to steal and

Kill and to destroy the church.

I have come to give you life that

You may have it to the full…

They know my voice, so they follow me.

https://vimeo.com/114938263

Heirs of the Promise

Monday, January 16, 2017, 9:42 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “My Very Best Friend.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Galatians 3:26-4:7 (NASB).

Through Faith (3:26-27)

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

No one has ever been saved by keeping the law, because not one of us can keep the law perfectly. The law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith, but no one is saved by observance of the law – not under the Old Covenant or under the New Covenant. Only through faith in God and in his Son Jesus (God the Son) can anyone be saved from their sins and have the hope of eternal life with God in heaven.

We can do nothing to earn or to deserve our own salvation. Our good works will never outweigh our bad. We can go to an institutional church every week, serve in various areas of ministry, give to the poor, help the weak, and even teach the word of God or even be a preacher/pastor, and still be lost in our sins, without God, and without the hope of heaven when we die.

All throughout scripture God chided those who professed faith in him for giving sacrifice to him while having hearts which were far from him. God has always made a distinction between just “doing” for God and obeying him, i.e. submitting to him and to his will for our lives, which is faith. Faith is not just some words we repeat after others, nor is it just an emotional experience at a church altar, nor is it a mere confession of Christ as Savior of our lives. Faith is obedience. It is submission. It is surrender. Through faith we give our lives to Christ to follow him in obedience, and we leave our lives of sin behind us (See: Ro. 6:1-23; 8:1-14; Eph. 4:17-24; Gal. 2:20).

Yet, faith does not equate sinless perfection. We don’t immediately become perfect just because we believe in Jesus, but we are transformed of the Spirit of God in heart and mind away from living for sin and self to walking in obedience and surrender to God – all in the power and working of the Spirit of God who now lives within us. Faith in Jesus Christ does mean that we die with Christ to sin and we live with Christ to righteousness, but it is only by the Spirit that daily we are able to put to death the deeds of the flesh and surrender our lives to God. If we do sin, we are still saved, because we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, yet if we continue living in sin after we profess to have fellowship with God, the Bible says we are liars, and it also says we will die in our sins (1 Jn. 1:6; Lu. 9:23-25; Ro. 8:1-14).

You see, being baptized into Christ is a spiritual baptism, and it involves dying with Christ to sin and being resurrected with Christ to newness of life, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24). And, putting on Christ, or being clothed with Christ is not a mere formality, but it is life changing; life altering. We were once dead in our sins, but now we are alive in Christ Jesus. The old has gone. The new has come. We no longer live to please ourselves, but we live to please God. We no longer conduct our lives according to the flesh, but we now live our lives according to the Spirit, and in the power and working of the Spirit within us (Ro. 8:1-14).

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin” (Ro. 6:6-7).

Children of Promise (3:28-29)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

There are many Christians today who try to separate Jew from Gentile, and who still hold to the Jews (as a nation) being God’s chosen people and the children of promise, because those who believe this are following the Old Testament teaching and not the New Testament teaching. When Jesus Christ died on a cross for our sins, he destroyed the barrier that stood between Jew and Gentile and he made us one through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:14-18). It is “not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring” (Ro. 9:6b-8). And, “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ MEANING ONE PERSON, who is Christ” (Gal. 3:16). If we belong to Christ, by faith, then we are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to the promise, i.e. only those who believe in Jesus are the children of promise.

“Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother… Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. IT IS THE SAME NOW. But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman” (Gal. 4:25-26, 28-31).

What this is saying is that anyone who does not believe in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of his or her life is of the slave woman, Hagar, because they are still in slavery to sin – whether Jew or Gentile by birth. So, basically, all Jews who reject Jesus Christ as Savior are no different than Arabs who don’t believe in Jesus. They are both of Hagar. The city of Jerusalem is NOT the Holy City. The Holy City is now the body of Christ, his church, the Jerusalem from above (heavenly Jerusalem). We are of the free woman! The physical city of Jerusalem is of Hagar, the slave woman.

We who believe in Jesus are the children of promise, not those who were born Jews, unless they, too, believe in Jesus Christ. So, when this speaks of the son born in the ordinary way persecuting the son born by the power of the Spirit, this is NOT referring to the persecution of the Jews today by the Arabs, but it is referring to non-Christians (including Jews) persecuting Christians, i.e. the children of promise. And, this was said because there were Jews who were trying to persuade Christians that they had to follow Jewish laws, traditions, ceremonies and celebrations in order to be saved. So, this was written to urge the Christians to not come back under slavery, i.e. to reject what the Judaizers were trying to tell them, because we are only saved by faith in Jesus Christ. We only are the heirs of the promise.

Adoption as Children (4:1-7)

Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

When we are born into this world, we are born into sin, in the image of Adam (Ro. 5:12-19; 1 Co. 15:21-22, 42-49). We come up short of attaining God’s divine approval (Ro. 3:23). So, God sent his Son Jesus Christ (God the Son) to die on a cross for our sins. He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Co. 5:21). When he died he put our sins to death, so that when we believe in him, we die with him to sin, and we are resurrected with him to newness of life, to be lived to his righteousness (1 Pet. 2:24; Ro. 6:1-23). Through Jesus’ blood shed on a cross for our sins we were bought back for God (redeemed), so that we can now live to his righteousness. He died that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave his life up for us (2 Co. 5:15). He also died that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Ro. 8:1-14).

Before Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross for our sins, and resurrected back to life from the dead, victorious over sin, hell, Satan and death, God’s people were under slavery to the law, not that keeping the law ever saved them, but they were required to follow a long list of rules and regulations which were very strict, most of which we don’t have to follow today. We still have to obey Christ’s commandments, though, because faith in Jesus Christ, and in what he did for us on a cross, by its very nature transforms our hearts away from living in sin to walking in obedience to our Lord Jesus. But, we aren’t just following a set of rules, but we are living in Christ and we are walking in his Spirit, so that we no longer live to gratify the sinful desires of our flesh. We now walk in freedom from slavery to sin because of God’s grace to us and Jesus’ sacrifice on a cross for our sins. Amen!

When we trust in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives, we are not only delivered from slavery to sin, and not only do we become servants of his righteousness (Ro. 6:1-23), but we now become God’s children and heirs of the promise – “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Ro. 8:17). His Spirit comes to live within us, and he comforts, leads, encourages, convicts, inspires, counsels, and teaches us the way in which we should go. He is always there with us, giving us hope and courage, listening to our prayers, and speaking his words tenderly to our hearts. Jesus Christ is not only our Lord and Savior, but he is our brother, and he is our very best friend.

My Very Best Friend 

Ron Hamilton – Patch the Pirate

Jesus is closer than a brother.

Every moment he is near.

I know he never will forsake me.

He has conquered all my fear.

Jesus is closer than a brother.

On his love I can depend.

King of kings, Lord of lords,

Conquering Son, oh, all of these,

He’s my very best friend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gDeYuckXgQ

Pleasing God or Humans?

Sunday, January 15, 2017, 8:30 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “My Sheep.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Galatians 1 (Select vv. NASB).

From this Present Evil Age (vv. 1-5)

Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

Paul did not go into the ministry because he had a Bible college or seminary degree from a particular church denomination’s institution of higher learning. He also did not become a preacher of the Word of Christ because he went through the process of ordination, and was, thus, ordained by a particular church denomination, after having been examined thoroughly by a group of people assigned to the task of examining him. In fact, he most likely would not have been approved because he had been a persecutor and a murderer of the saints of God and a strong opponent of the gospel of our salvation. The only reason he became an apostle and a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ was because God called him, by his grace, setting him apart even from his mother’s womb (v. 15). Thus, he who once persecuted the church was now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy (v. 23). Amen.

So, what was the gospel that Paul then taught if he was not trained by humans in how to preach and in what to preach? He taught Jesus Christ - God incarnate - crucified, buried, risen from the dead, ascended to heaven and coming again. He taught what was in total agreement with the prophets of old when they prophesied concerning the coming of the Messiah. And, he taught the gospel message in the power of the Holy Spirit, who was the one who then taught him what to say. Thus, what he taught were the words of God. So, they are truth. And, the truth is that Jesus didn’t die just so we could escape hell, be forgiven of our sins, and have the hope of heaven when we die. Jesus gave himself up for us to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father in heaven.

So, what does it mean to be rescued from this present evil age? Let’s look at some parallel scriptures. We read in scripture that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, and that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave himself up for us (1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Co. 5:15). He died that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Ro. 8:1-14). He died that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Co. 5:21). Jesus also died that we might die with him to sin and be resurrected with him to newness of life (be born again), “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:17-24; Ro. 6:1-23; Gal. 2:20). And, He “gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” (Tit. 2:14).

A Different Gospel (vv. 6-9)

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

So, what is this “different gospel” of which Paul spoke? It was a man-made gospel, i.e. created in the minds and hearts of humans, not in the mind of God. So, it can apply to any human-created gospel teaching. Yet, he was specifically referring to a teaching that taught that we could gain merit with God via human effort. More specifically he was referring to a false teaching which was convincing many believers in Jesus that they had to still follow Jewish ceremonies, traditions, celebrations, and/or laws in order to be saved. Today we call this legalism, i.e. when rules of men are added on to the grace of God as requirements for being in right standing with God. Yet, if it is not taught in the Word of God, we don’t have to obey it.

Nonetheless, the Spirit of God will call us to specific areas of ministry or will lead us to go places, or to speak to certain people, and we must obey, but we must make certain the voice we are hearing is God’s voice, and that what we believe we are being called to do is in line with the teachings of scripture.

Ok, so on the flip side of legalism is libertinism. Both of them are human-created, and both of them are opposed to the true gospel of our salvation. One adds human rules to God’s grace, and another subtracts Christ’s commands from the gospel and distorts the truth of God’s grace. God’s grace is not given to us just so our sins are forgiven, but so they are eradicated (cleansed, purified) from our daily lives. Jesus didn’t die just to forgive us our sins, but he died to deliver us out of slavery to sin so that we would now become servants of his righteousness (Ro. 6:1-23). God’s grace, which brings salvation, is not a free license to continue in sin without guilt or remorse. No, his grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for his return (Tit. 2:11-14).

If we hold on to our old lives of living for sin and self, we will lose them for eternity. But, if we lose our lives (die with Christ to sin and self), we will gain eternal life (See: Lu. 9:23-25). Paul put it this way: If we walk according to our sinful flesh, to fulfill its lustful desires, we will die still in our sin, without Christ, and without hope. But, if by the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, we will live with Christ for eternity (Ro. 6:1-23; 8:1-14). John said that if we walk in darkness (in sin), and yet we claim to have fellowship with God, that we are liars (1 Jn. 1:6). He also said:

“By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 Jn. 2:3-6).

In other words, we are not saved by our own human effort, or by doing good deeds, or by following a set of man-made rules. We can do nothing to earn or to deserve our own salvation. We can’t even come to Christ unless the Father first draws us to him, and even the faith to believe in Jesus Christ is a gift from God, as is the ability to repent of our sins and to obey Christ and his commandments. Yet, we must act on that gift from God and apply it to our daily lives in the power of the Spirit within us. In other words, faith is not a mere confession of Christ as Savior, but it is the reality of his Lordship in our lives. True salvation results in transformed lives of the Spirit of God, being turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that we can receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified (made holy) by faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 26:16-18).

Again, if we walk (in lifestyle) in darkness (sin, wickedness), but we claim to be in fellowship with God, we are liars. If we walk (conduct our lives) according to the flesh, we will die in our sin, but if by the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, we will live with Christ for eternity.

A Bond-servant of Christ (v. 10)

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

So, it all comes down to this: Who am I living to please? - The flesh of humans, including my own, or the Spirit of God? Am I more concerned with what humans will think of me, or is my concern with pleasing God? Do I conform my life to the ways of this sinful world in order to be accepted and included by humans? Or, do I conform my life to God’s ways, to follow in his truth, even if I am hated, rejected, persecuted and ill-treated by humans, in return? If I live my life to please my own flesh or the flesh of others, I am not a bond-servant of Jesus Christ. But, if I live my life to please God, though not perfectly, but I daily walk in his steps, putting to death the deeds of the flesh, by the Spirit, then I am a vessel useful to his service. I am in Christ, and he is in me. I listen to his voice, and I follow (obey) him.

My Sheep / An Original Work / June 24, 2012

Based off John 10:1-18 NIV

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

They will never follow strangers.

They will run away from them.

The voice of a stranger they know not;

They do not follow him.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Nonetheless whoever enters

Not by the gate; other way,

He is the thief and a robber.

Listen not, the sheep to him.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

The thief only comes to steal and

Kill and to destroy the church.

I have come to give you life that

You may have it to the full…

They know my voice, so they follow me.

https://vimeo.com/114938263

Unrepentant Sin

Saturday, January 14, 2017, 11:00 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “My Very Best Friend.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read 2 Corinthians 13 (NASB).

The Power of God (vv. 1-4)

This is the third time I am coming to you. Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone, since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

In a previous chapter we read that Paul was jealous for the Corinthian believers with a godly jealousy, because he had promised them to one husband, Jesus Christ, yet he feared that they might be led astray from their sincere and pure devotion to Jesus Christ. What was the basis of his concern, then? It appears that, at least some of the Corinthian believers were being tolerant of false christs, false spirits, and false gospels. They put up with these far too easily, he said. Thus, it may be that they knew what was being presented was false, and they just did nothing about it. Or, it could be that they just didn’t bother testing what they heard against the Word of Truth, and/or in prayer, and in the power and knowledge of the Spirit within them, in order to know whether or not what they were allowing and/or receiving was truth or deception cleverly disguised as truth.

All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved. For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced (2 Co. 12: 19-21).

Paul was concerned that there was unrepentant sin being allowed to continue within the church, and that there was false teaching being tolerated, too, and perhaps that the two of them went hand-in-hand. And, he was also concerned that some of them did not respect his God-given (appointed) authority to do anything about it, which is one of the reasons it was allowed to continue and nothing was being done to stop it. So, his intention was that, upon this next visit, he would come in the power of God and he would exercise divine discipline in correcting the wrong, yet not because he wanted to punish them. He did not. But, because he loved them with a godly love, and he wanted to see them walking in truth and in freedom from the control of sin over their lives.

And, so it is today, at least here in America. Sin is barely even mentioned in the vast majority of church congregations today, at least not in the modern church gatherings where they are marketing the “church” to the world, and thus they are more focused on entertaining the world rather than on bringing the world to genuine faith in Jesus Christ. All kinds of false teaching are permeating today’s modern church, as well as a Jesus is being presented which is not consistent with the Jesus of the Bible, i.e. the Son of God. Feel-good messages which tickle itching ears are replacing Spirit-led messages which convict hearts of sin, and which call for repentance. And, Bible studies are often not more than studies of books written by modern authors, some of which are not only inconsistent with scripture, but are even that which teach what is clearly false, and which promote middle eastern religion.

Test Yourselves (vv. 5-10)

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test. Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete. For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

A false grace gospel is being taught widely, as well, which teaches that a prayer repeated after someone else inviting Jesus to be your Savior is sufficient for salvation, and a guarantee of heaven when you die. As well, they say that God is pleased with you no matter what you do, and that he requires nothing of you – no submission to the cross, no repentance and no obedience to Christ and to his commands. This false grace gospel, thus, is free license to continue in willful sin against God absent of remorse and without guilt. It gives the impression that once you pray the prayer, and you have heaven guaranteed, that God is no longer concerned about your sin, for his grace covers it all. Thus, the freedom they teach is no freedom at all, for it leaves its adherents still dead in their sins without hope.

So, what is the truth? Well, it is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who knew no sin, became sin for us when he died on a cross. Thus, when he died our sins died with him, and were buried with him. And, when he was resurrected from the dead, he rose victorious over sin, Satan, hell and death. Yet, not all are saved from sin. We must put our trust in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives in order for us to have the hope of salvation from sin. So, what does this look like? Well, it means that the Spirit of God opens our blinded eyes and we are turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God that we might receive forgiveness of sins, and a place among those who are sanctified (made holy) by faith in Jesus Christ.

The truth is that Jesus died, not just so we could escape hell and go to heaven when we die, but he died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. He died that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave his life up for us. And, he died that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us who walk not after the flesh, but who conduct our lives according to the Spirit. For, if we walk after the flesh, we will die (in our sin), but if by the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, we will live (with Christ for eternity). The truth is, too, that God’s grace is not free license to continue in sin, for his grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for his return (See: 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Co. 5:15; Ro. 8:1-14; Tit. 2:11-14; cf. Ro. 6:1-23; Eph. 4:17-24; Lu. 9:23-25).

So, for us to examine ourselves to see if truly we are in the faith, we need to do so against all the scriptures which speak of our salvation and eternal security in Christ, and not just hand-select the scriptures which say what our itching ears want to hear. For instance, we have to read Romans 10:9-10 in the context of the whole of Romans (esp. chaps. 6 & 8), and in the context of the whole of the New Testament, and we have to not build an entire doctrine of salvation around just those two verses, which is what many are doing. Jesus said that if we want to come after him we must deny self and take up our cross daily and follow him, for if we hold on to our lives (of living for sin and self), we will lose them for eternity, but if we lose our lives (die with Christ to sin), we will gain eternal life. If we say we have fellowship with God, but we walk in darkness, we are liars (Lu. 9:23-25; 1 Jn. 1:6).

Live in Peace (vv. 11-14)

Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

So, instead of living in unrepentant sin, while claiming heaven as our eternal home, and instead of following a false grace gospel, or a man-made Jesus, or the teachings of mere humans, we need to be like-minded with Christ concerning the truths he taught, and that his NT apostles taught, and we need to repent of our sins and walk in obedience to that truth. Then we can mature in Christ, be comforted by his love, be like-minded with other Spirit-filled believers, and live in peace with God and with others, as much as it depends on us. Then we will truly know the Jesus of the Bible, and we will be able to experience close fellowship with him as daily we talk with him, read his Word, and then as we walk in obedience to him and to his Word. In fact, we will come to know him to be our very best friend.

My Very Best Friend  

Ron Hamilton – Patch the Pirate

Jesus is closer than a brother.

Every moment he is near.

I know he never will forsake me.

He has conquered all my fear.

Jesus is closer than a brother.

On his love I can depend.

King of kings, Lord of lords,

Conquering Son, oh, all of these,

He’s my very best friend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gDeYuckXgQ

Submitting to the Cross

Saturday, January 14, 2017, 6:30 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Oh, To Be Like Thee.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read 2 Corinthians 12 (Select vv. NASB).

A Thorn in the Flesh (vv. 7-10)

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

When God gifts us in ministry, he may also afflict us in some way in order to keep us humble, and also that we might learn to rely on him and not on ourselves. This affliction, i.e. this “thorn in the flesh” may come in many different forms. No one is certain what exactly was Paul’s “thorn,” although many will speculate. Clearly it was given him by God, for it was for the purpose to keep him humble. Satan does not want us to be humble, but to be proud. Satan does not want us to trust in God but in ourselves. So, this is one of those instances where Satan meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. For example, God may use other people in our lives to keep us humble and seeking his face, or he may use our circumstances or a physical ailment or whatever he chooses to humble us and to mold us into his likeness. The Bible calls this pruning, in order that we might be more fruitful (Jn. 15).

So, when God brings (causes) or permits difficulties in our lives, and we pray for relief, sometimes he may give us the same response as he gave Paul, and that is that his grace is sufficient for us, in order that Christ’s power might be perfected in our weaknesses (not in our sins). And, this is for the purpose that Christ’s power might dwell in us and be evident in our lives instead of us operating in our own flesh and willpower. “For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body” (2 Co. 4:11). Our flesh must daily be put at the cross of Christ in order that his life might shine through us. So, instead of fighting against what God is doing in our lives, because we hate pain and suffering, we need to yield to the Lord, and submit to the cross.

I Gladly Spend (vv. 14-18)

Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?

When God calls us to ministry it must be self-sacrificial. We must not seek our own glory, but the good of others. It will mean giving of our time and our talents, gifts, energies, heart, emotion, and reputations, etc. in order to follow our Lord in obedience, and for the benefit of those to whom we minister his love and grace. And, in return, we may get our hearts stomped on, i.e. we may be falsely accused, despised, hated, rejected, abandoned, gossiped about, slandered, mocked and otherwise treated unfairly, unjustly and unkindly. And, yet, if we love God and we love others as we love ourselves, we will willingly suffer in order that others might come to faith in Jesus Christ, in order that they might grow to maturity in Christ, that they might be comforted and encouraged in their walks of faith, and so that they will not be led astray to false gods or to false gospels. In other words, ministry is not to be about us, but about loving God and loving others.

For Your Upbuilding (vv. 19-21)

All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved. For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.

Certainly there are those who call themselves ministers of the gospel who are in it for themselves, either to gain financially, or for power and prestige, or to build for themselves earthly kingdoms, or in order to build up their own reputations and fame. As well, they may be in the ministry as false apostles, masquerading themselves as servants of righteousness, in order to deceive the masses with false gospels for the purpose of leading people astray from their pure devotion to Jesus Christ. These are Satan’s workers of iniquity to serve his purposes, because he doesn’t want anyone to follow Christ, but he wants people to follow him, instead. And, so he disguises himself as an angel of light in order to deceive many. And, many are deceived, indeed.

Yet, as true servants of the Lord, who follow him in obedience, and who love our fellow humans, we do ministry out of love for God and for the benefit of others. We expend ourselves in many different ways so that our brothers and sisters in Christ might be strengthened in their faith, that their faith in God may increase, and that they be encouraged and be filled with hope.

As ministers of Christ, we, as well, feel what God feels. We are filled with his passion and concern over those who are being led back into sin or over those who are being led astray, and so we caution them and warn them, and we urge them to be faithful to their Lord and to walk in obedience to Christ. And, it isn’t because we feel superior or that we are just being negative that we do what we do, either. Those who would fill your minds only with happy-happy feel-good messages do not love you, but they love only themselves, and they want you to like them, rather than caring about you and your soul and your spiritual walks. But, God’s grace does not ignore sin. His grace, which brings salvation, teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for Christ’s return. Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Thomas O. Chisholm / W. J. Kirkpatrick

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,

Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg

Tolerance of Evil

Friday, January 13, 2017, 8:30 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “My Sheep.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read 2 Corinthians 11 (Select vv. NASB).

A Godly Jealousy (vv. 1-6)

I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles. But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.

When we trust in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives, and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, we, in essence, become the bride of Christ and he becomes our husband. Our commitment to trust Jesus as our Savior and Lord (owner-master), i.e. to leave our lives of sin behind us and to follow Jesus Christ in obedience to his commands, is a vow of fidelity to God/Jesus. It is much like a marriage vow, where we promise to love, honor and keep (cling to) each other for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health from this day forward, forsaking all others, and to be faithful only to each other so long as we both would live. And, yet, many do not approach their relationship with Jesus Christ like this, at all, and thus they become easy prey for the enemy to deceive them into following after false christs. Yet, Jesus is a jealous husband who longs for his adulterous bride to return to him.

So, in what ways is the bride of Christ being deceived and led astray to follow after other lovers today? In other words, how is she presently being led astray from the simplicity and purity of her devotion to Christ? Well, for one, much of today’s church here in America, and perhaps in other countries, too, has willingly and unequally yoked herself together with the government of our nation, which is an ungodly and evil entity. Although she is the body of Christ, which is a living organism, with Christ as her head, she willingly submitted herself to come under the headship of the government by incorporating herself as a non-profit business organization. And, the problem isn’t just that our government is ungodly, but that they answer to Satan, who is their true head - who disguises himself as an angel of light in order to deceive people.

It has been about twelve years now since the Lord Jesus began opening my eyes to the truth about the US government and its Satanic ties, and its purpose in being created, which is to lead the world to worship the antichrist, i.e. the beast of Revelation, and to bring the world under a one-world totalitarian government and one-world religion (1). The USA is, in essence, the harlot, spoken of in the book of Revelation, which rides the beast. Our nation, I believe, is physical mystery Babylon. And, our government (and their allies) has led (forced) the nations of the world to follow and worship the beast. They and their allies have been doing exactly what the beast is described as doing in Revelation 13 in conquering peoples, nations, and the saints of God throughout the globe, and now here in America, too. And, the institutional church, which has partnered with this evil government, is culpable for her crimes, too.

As far as our present government is concerned, there is a group of elite who have served as a shadow government in the USA for many years, who are truly the ones ruling America, and now the world. Our physical government, which is the face of this elite “beast,” answers to this group of elite, which some people call the Illuminati, but which includes the Bilderberg group, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission, Big Banks, CEOs of corporations, religious leaders and heads of state, etc. They are the de facto government in these United States of America. Yet, now or very soon this shadow government will no longer be in the shadows, but they will be what we see front and center. They are the all-seeing eye (eye of Horus) which hovers over top the unfinished pyramid on the Great Seal of the USA.

Basically, what they have done or are doing is they are turning the USA into a Public-Private-Partnership of sorts (2). I admit that I don’t completely understand what all that means, but what I do know is that this means that the beast shadow government will no longer be ruling from the shadows, but they will soon rule more directly, and that these CEOs of corporations, i.e. the really wealthy ones, et al, will be more out in the open, perhaps via the Trump presidency, along with his chosen cabinet. This will be true, though, whether or not Trump is actually inaugurated as the next president of the USA, for this is where our nation has been headed from nearly the very beginnings of her existence as the USA.

So, what this means for the church is that, if she has partnered with this government via the 501c3 that she is, in fact, unequally yoked together with Satan and his deceitful workers (See: 2 Co. 11:13-15). So, God is calling her to come out from her lest she share in her sins and in her punishment (See: Rev. 18:1-8). Please pray about this, for this is serious business!

What You Tolerate (vv. 16-21)

Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also. For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face. To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison.

This is speaking to the institutional church today loud and clear. Again, the church is a living organism with Christ Jesus as her only head. She is the body of Christ, a spiritual entity, not a physical one. She is married to one husband, Jesus Christ. She is to not partner with any other entity or to make anyone else her head. She is definitely not to incorporate the body of Christ with an ungodly and evil entity, i.e. she is not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, i.e. most especially with an evil government. She is not to make herself into a man-made business and to market herself as such, either, but she does and has – not the whole body of Christ has, mind you, but a very large majority in America has. And Jesus is jealous, and he is calling out to his bride to forsake these “other lovers” and to return to her “first love.”

But, it isn’t just this situation alone that is the issue. Via the partnership with the US government she has brought government worship into the church via the pledge (vow) of allegiance (fidelity) to the US flag and its government, with hand over heart, too, and via the singing of patriotic songs and the honoring of our military as our heroes, and as our “saviors” and “protectors.” The church has basically been indoctrinated with government worship to the point where the vast majority of the church here in America trusts whatever they hear coming out of the mouths of their leaders and from the mouths of their government-controlled (elite-controlled) media. And, so they are ripe for deception, manipulation and for being mind-controlled, as well.

In addition to all of this, the church has brought the world into the church rather than the church going out into the world with the gospel. In order to attract the world, thus, to the “church,” they turned to worldly means and methods for attracting the world, and via worldly marketing schemes and techniques. They have basically turned the church into a marketplace, and Jesus is coming with a whip to drive them out, I believe. “Worship” services are, more than not, just big shows to entertain the world and to make them feel good so they will want to come back. Bible studies are often just studies of books written by mere men (Holy Spirit uninspired). And, the gospel has been diluted in order to appeal to human flesh. So, they have completely removed the cross of Christ from our lives – no death to sin and no living to righteousness. And, the Holy Spirit has been given the boot!

So, again, Jesus Christ is calling out to his bride to return to him as her only “love” and to forsake all these “other lovers,” as well as to be discerning concerning these wolves in sheep’s clothing who masquerade themselves as servants of righteousness. Jesus said his sheep listen to his voice and they follow (obey) him. Whose voice are you following today? The voice of Jesus? Or, the voice of the government and media? Or, the voice of the world?

My Sheep / An Original Work / June 24, 2012

Based off John 10:1-18 NIV

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

They will never follow strangers.

They will run away from them.

The voice of a stranger they know not;

They do not follow him.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Nonetheless whoever enters

Not by the gate; other way,

He is the thief and a robber.

Listen not, the sheep to him.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

The thief only comes to steal and

Kill and to destroy the church.

I have come to give you life that

You may have it to the full…

They know my voice, so they follow me.

https://vimeo.com/114938263

Disclaimer: The links to the following sites are for informational purposes only. This is not an endorsement of the sites nor of its owners nor of all the content contained within them. There is much information on the internet concerning these same matters, but much more than I can post in one single writing.

(1)       http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Illuminati/dc.htm

(2)       http://anothervoicerev184.blogspot.com/2017/01/trump-to-turn-usa-into-public-private.html

Sorrowful unto Repentance

Wednesday, January 11, 2017, 12:33 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “My Very Best Friend.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read 2 Corinthians 7:2-13a (NASB).

Make Room for Us (vv. 2-4)

Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together. Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.

When we serve God as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we share with others the truths of God’s Word, there will always be people who will not like us, and who will slander us and gossip about us, and even turn away from us, because they don’t like something we said, hopefully only for the reason that we told them the truth, and they didn’t want to hear it.

“Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16).

The sad reality of it all, though, is that those who reject the gospel message, and who slander its messengers, are not confined to just those outside the church, but they are often, more than not, those who claim to know Jesus as Lord of their lives, and who are active within the gatherings of the church, some of whom are even the church’s leaders. More and more - as so much of the church today has embraced the world and its philosophies, values, and morals - many of those who profess Christ have now developed a low tolerance for the truth, and would prefer, rather, to gather around them those who would preach feel-good messages to tickle their itching ears.

I Don’t Regret It (vv. 5-9)

For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within. But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more. For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.

When we speak the truth of God’s words to people, even if we do so with great gentleness, and sensitivity, yet in the power of the Spirit of God, there will always be those who will hate us, reject us, falsely accuse us, persecute us and say all manner of evil against us. And, if we are loving and caring people at all, this will hurt us, especially if those who turn against us were once our close friends and companions. Thus, it can be very lonely, at times, sharing with people what most of them do not want to hear. Yet, that is what Jesus did, which is why they killed him. Still, our Lord will never leave us or forsake us, and he will give us all we need to keep on sharing the truth. He will encourage our hearts, and he will fill us with his peace.

So many times, if you are one who speaks the truth in love, in the power and under the direction of the Holy Spirit, you will be accused of being hateful, bigoted, a divider of people, a disunifier, legalistic, and mean. People will even think you get enjoyment out of hurting others or that you are callous and that you don’t care how others react to your words. There are people like this, I know, so partly this is understandable that people may react this way. Yet, if we truly love God and others, and thus we speak only what God leads us to speak, and for the ultimate benefit of those who would listen, our purpose in speaking the truth in love is not to harm others, but to help them to victory in Christ over sin, which has gotten a hold on their lives once more, or to free them from believing and/or practicing what is false.

So, it isn’t that we are insensitive, or that we are callous and we don’t care about what we say or how that may impact others, but it is that we love so deeply that we are willing to have others think and speak evil against us in order to see people repent of their sins and turn (or return) to genuine faith in Jesus Christ and to walk in the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh.

Godly Sorrow (vv. 10-13a)

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God. For this reason we have been comforted.

Not all sorrow over sin leads to genuine repentance, though. Confession of sin is not the same as repentance. A person can confess with great sorrow of heart his or her sins, and even with tears, and yet never change, because there has not been a change of heart. They just felt badly that they sinned, or that they got caught, but not badly enough to turn away from it and to follow Jesus in obedience, instead. So, that is considered worldly sorrow, and it leads to death (in our sins and bound for eternity in hell).

On the other hand, godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance, i.e. to a change of heart and mind about sin that results in a change of behavior, and this leads to salvation and eternal life with God. True repentance involves turning away from sin and turning to God to follow him in obedience and in surrender to his will for our lives. And, it reveals itself to be genuine by the actions that follow the confession of sin, i.e. we are to produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt. 3:8). What this means is that, as we walk in the Spirit, and no longer according to the flesh, we will be putting to death, by the Spirit, the misdeeds of our sinful flesh (See: Ro. 8:1-14). Daily we will die to sin and self and follow Jesus in obedience (Lu. 9:23-25), not in sinless perfection, but in consistency, persistence and in lifestyle.

So, for those of us who regularly share the gospel of salvation and the truths of God’s Word with others, for their benefit, and for their deliverance, and for their spiritual growth and maturity in Christ, we find great joy and comfort when we learn that those to whom we speak (or write) are being benefited, in that the Word of Truth and the Holy Spirit’s power is producing change in their hearts and lives. And, in that we rejoice!

And, yet, even if we do not gain such knowledge in this life, and even if we must suffer false accusations, hostility, rejection, persecution, and the like, because we share the truth of the Word of God so that others will be saved, or so that they will walk in victory over sin, we will continue, because we know that we are obeying our Lord, and because we love God and we love people, and we want to see them come to Christ and to walk in his holiness.

Thus, we will find our comfort in the Lord in knowing that his Word will not return void, but will accomplish his purposes for which it is sent. And, we will find in him all we need in the way of friendship, companionship, love and fellowship, and we will trust him to provide for us all that we need, and all that he has for us to keep on being his servants and witnesses in spreading the gospel of our salvation so that many will be saved and will walk with Him.

My Very Best Friend  

Ron Hamilton – Patch the Pirate

Jesus is closer than a brother.

Every moment he is near.

I know he never will forsake me.

He has conquered all my fear.

Jesus is closer than a brother.

On his love I can depend.

King of kings, Lord of lords,

Conquering Son, oh, all of these,

He’s my very best friend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gDeYuckXgQ