Bible study

Blog for Podcast #262 (Come out of her My people) [Faith AND Works] Part 4 – Conclusion


Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Until further notice the messages that accompany this notice will be part of the “Come out of her my people” series. They will be harsh. They will cause people to get upset. This is as it should be. They must question the way they think and live. So, they can seek to follow Christ and not the world.

Discussion

Most that now call themselves “Christian” at this time, live under a false imagery about their existence within the community that are followers of Jesus Christ.

Why? Because they have a misconception of what is required of them. Mainly due to not being told the real Truth. Nor, reading the Scriptures for themselves. So, they only have themselves to blame. But blame for what? Well, we’ll get to that.

Let’s take a journey though. Not a trip through the countryside. However, a trip through those that have made their church their social focal point. To go through this journey, I will call upon my experiences throughout the last 57 years of my life in which I spent in many buildings called “churches” that I have entered into.

First let us look at the behavior of many that call themselves parents. Most become stern and strict. The thing is they impose their own rules and regulations. No TV and no movies are two examples. You will listen to this and not that. This is adding to the Word of God. Now don’t get me wrong. One command must be followed.

 Proverbs 13:24 NKJV – He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

Spanking a child when they do wrong is mandatory. They must come to know that doing wrong can cause pain.  However, making them do wrong by having rules that are overly stern is wrong as well. I have known many within the religious community that act like this. They end up driving their children away from God. In some cases, they even cause them to enter into sin. Sin they would have avoided if not to help save the social imagery of their parents within the church community. I know many that now live in sin due to this very mentality coming from their parents.

What does the Bible teach?

1 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV – This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);

Yes, this is about those that seek after leadership of a religious group. However, are parents not the leaders of their household? The answer is yes. Therefore, this applies to them as well. How can any be a good parent if they drive away their children from God?

Here I wish to give an anecdote.

I once encountered the written testimony of someone. About his coming to follow Christ. The first part was wonderful and perfect. It showed a true understanding of sin and the decision to turn away from it.  Then the speed bumps occurred. The man’s wife had gone through it and corrected his grammar and spelling. Why? I don’t know.

Then I saw the last two parts of this man’s testimony. The first part threw me for a loop. The second part made my jaw drop. To paraphrase. In the first part he said: “So I have decided not to fully commit myself to God.” The second statement: “I will seek fellowship with those in the church and be happy with them.”

I have my suspicions where these comments came from. But without concrete evidence I will not speak on what caused this 180-degree turn away from the wonderful words spoken in the first part of the testimony.

The Bible makes it clear.

Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV – Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

God is first. Not the community, building or group. Most have this mentality that if they do wonders within the group, the community, the building. They are blessed and going to heaven. Again, this is the furthest thing from the Truth.

James 1:19-27 NKJV – So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

“Visit orphans and widows in their trouble.” This means to help those in need.

More importantly is this part of the verse:

“To keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

Let’s explore the word: “unspotted.”

Unspotted – G748 – aspilos – Unblemished, spotless, without stain, unstained, undefiled, spotless, pure.

How is this accomplished? Well let’s look at this from another teaching within the Bible.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Also, there is one lesson in three different gospels that also fit, so I will show one of these.

Mark 10:17-21 NKJV – Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,’ ‘DO NOT MURDER,’ ‘DO NOT STEAL,’ ‘DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.'” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

And just for icing on the cake We have this teaching:

1 John 2:15-17 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Most that go to the buildings called “churches.” That join the choir. That sit in the pews and sing their songs say a prayer or two and listen to and/or give a sermon do one major thing wrong. Even though I just listed several sins in the description I gave. However, what is this one major thing which makes them not really “Christian” but lukewarm and thus vomited out of the Body of Christ long ago? Thus meaning no longer saved.

Matthew 6:19-24 NKJV – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

“You cannot serve God AND mammon. Yet that is exactly what they do. They prove this by what the word “mammon” means.

It is defined as riches which is jewelry and fancy clothes. It is also defined as money. The accumulation of money beyond our needs. It also mean possessions. Those objects throughout their houses. On the walls on their furniture, as well as the furniture itself. It is also their cars and trucks and motorcycles that are again beyond what is needed. Especially if they are “luxury vehicles.” It is also property. The huge houses and\or multiple houses. By the way an RV counts as a house. As well as land filled with nothing to help those in the need.

They worship mammon and that is where their heart is. They all condemn themselves, because that is the way it is and has been for decades, for centuries.  I have heard this and seen this first hand from people close to me. Even they refuse to accept that they are not welcome into heaven. That they will not even be considered for the first resurrection. They will however, be considered for the Great White Throne Judgement, which fits in with those that stand on the dais and say: “When you stand before God on Judgement Day.”

For those that are True to God and live a needs-only lifestyle as well as spread the Word of God and use the excess of their earthly wealth to help those in need. These WILL be part of the first resurrection and  will not be judged, but will judge.

Revelation 20:4-6 NKJV – And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

This is what most that call themselves “Christian” think will happen and occur to them. However, as has just been shown. This is the furthest thing from the Truth. For they WILL awaken to the second resurrection and more the pity for them. All because they are right and the Bible, the Word of God. The Holy Spirit who uses people as His tools are wrong.

Why say this? Because they are all talk and no action. They show faith without works. Instead of faith AND works.

James 2:26 NKJV – For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Therefore, understand. Just because you live a religious life doesn’t mean you are welcome in heaven. All you’ve done is live by faith alone. Never even attempting to live a needs-only lifestyle. Truly spread the REAL WORD of God. For if you did you would teach to live a needs-only lifestyle. Also, you never truly help those in need. Because if you did you would be living off the least of you earthly income not most of it.

Plain and simple. Yes, You will be standing before God on Judgement Day. You will weep and cry when that occurs for you will have missed the thousand year reign and not be considered worthy to be a priest of God and of Christ.

Pray that your faith alone allowed you to have your names written in the Book of Life. But don’t count on it.

Revelation 20:15 NKJV – And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

God Bless.

Blog for Podcast #260 (Come out of her My people) [Faith AND Works] Part 2


Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Until further notice the messages that accompany this notice will be part of the “Come out of her my people” series. They will be harsh. They will cause people to get upset. This is as it should be. They must question the way they think and live. So, they can seek to follow Christ and not the world.

Discussion

When being called to be True Disciples of Jesus Christ. As I have shown in the past. We are to leave the world behind. This is an action. An act. Works. This is another example that we are to show our faith by our works.

James 2:18 NKJV – But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

I had an encounter with of all things someone who declared himself to being a professor. This professor said most of the right things. However, he insisted that all we need is faith alone. This turned this person, who is basically a core element of the institutions that teach others to being pastors and ministers, is what would be described in the days that Jesus walked this earth the first time. A Scribe. In the same religious group as the Pharisees. It is this group of people like this professor that now instructs those that stand upon the dais and no longer teach the True Gospel. They instruct them to keep the pews full which is not the True Gospel. This explains why most of the buildings called “churches” are not the True Church. Only 2% of today’s buildings called “churches” actually teach the Truth.

As I showed last week from the OT via Hebrews chapter eleven. How all those that were important figures within those books because of their faith, showed their faith through works. Confirming it is faith in conjunction with works that we are to show we are followers of God though Jesus Christ. This also makes becoming disciples an act, which is works by following Jesus Christ’s command to live a needs-only lifestyle and to spread the Word of God, as well as help those in need.

Let me return now to this professor, this Scribe, this man of religion. I found it interesting that when I did as instructed within the Word of God to challenge this man about his turning away from the Word of God in private. That he quickly digressed into name calling and demeaning phrases. All I could remember was these Words spoken by Jesus Christ our Savior.

Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV – Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Now I have to ask these questions. Why was faith with works not only accomplished by those of the OT, but also by the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ Himself to the point of their own martyrdom? Why isn’t faith with works required by those that profess to being “Christian” today?

I will start to answer these questions from Paul himself in this letter to Timothy:

2 Timothy 3:10-12 NKJV – But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

“All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus.”

All!

Not those in the first generation. Not the Romans killed in the Coliseum. Not those that ran off to the Crusades falsely. Misled by a pope to a war that was not condoned by God.

All!

That means those that Truly follow Christ right now should be suffering. There are those that have been martyred in the Middle East and in Africa in the last few decades. However, how many are suffering in the rest of the world? Hardly any.

This is a major clue that they are not following Christ. They are just following religion taught by professors and speeches given by pastors, ministers and priests standing before pews filled with people.

They will say that they have suffered through illnesses. Through death of loved one. That is not suffering persecution. That is just suffering through life. There is a difference. A huge difference.

Suffering persecution will get you called names and attacked mostly by the religious community. For none in the religious community want to hear or teach the Truth. Why? Their buildings called “churches” would be empty and they would have no money. No mammon.

They couldn’t afford their large house. Pay for their large buildings. Drive their luxury cars. All of which is esteemed by the world.

Luke 16:13-15 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

This professor and these pastors, minister and priest are the new Pharisees. They teach all to seek after mammon. Why? because they don’t teach people to downsize. They don’t teach people to live a needs-only lifestyle. They teach all to sin. Mainly by teaching them that faith is all they need and require.

Thus, none suffer. None are persecuted for the Word of God. Thus, none are living their faith with works. They are those of Sardis. They are those of Laodicea.

Revelation 3:1-6 NKJV – “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘

Revelation 3:14-22 NKJV – “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘ “

“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”

“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life.”

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— “

“I know you works.” Words spoken by the Glorified Christ Jesus. Let that sink in.

Most act like they are alive, when they are dead. Vomited out of the Body of Christ because they refuse to downsize. They would rather keep their mammon over keeping their salvation and spreading the True Gospel.

Most want to laugh, scoff and ignore what has been shown in this teaching. However, it is the Truth. They don’t suffer persecution. That means they don’t know or teach the Truth.

When Christ was taken before Pilate. These Words were said by Jesus:

John 18:37 NKJV – Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

“For this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Yet whose voice do they hear?

I watched a video on social media where a woman was irate that people were going to church but felt no shame that people were being deported from the United States. Then she proceeded to show a hand gesture that is a sign of Satan. Then she stated that Jesus gave her mammon in the form of a house for her and her three children form three different fathers and she wed none of the men.

She is not hearing the truth. She is hearing the world.

2 Peter 2:15-19 NKJV – They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

They worship the world and who they are hearing tickling their ears is the devil. They will not awaken to the first resurrection, but the second resurrection. If you listen to all the pastors, ministers and priests we have to face judgement day.

That alone shows they are false teachers. For those that are martyred and those that are watchful and ready will be part of the first resurrection and serve with Jesus Christ during His thousand year reign. They will not stand in judgement, but will judge. While those that listen to the world and are not suffering persecution WILL awaken to the second resurrection. Those of the second resurrection WILL face judgement day. The Great White Throne Judgement, which means they must pray they will find their names in the Book of Life. For those of the First resurrection are written in the Book of Life and have no fear of damnation.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #259 (Come out of her My people) [Faith AND Works] Part 1


Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Until further notice the messages that accompany this notice will be part of the “Come out of her my people” series. They will be harsh. They will cause people to get upset. This is as it should be. They must question the way they think and live. So, they can seek to follow Christ and not the world.

Discussion

Of the greatest false teachings that now persists is the “faith alone”, “grace alone”, “Once Saved Always Saved” teachings. Teachings that are leading millions not to eternal life but eternal agony.

In James 2 this is taught:

James 2:14-26 NKJV – What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

This last verse is so powerful that I will restate it.

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

“For as the body without the spirit is dead.”

The Spirit is not our souls, but the Holy Spirit. This brings Truth to this:

John 3:5 NKJV – Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

This is how “faith with works” operates. Our faith, believe and love in hope that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior in conjunction with serving Him through keeping the commandments and helping others to come to know our Lord Jesus as we are commanded to do. This is why this is explained to us in Hebrews 11:

Hebrews 11:1-40 NKJV – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “AND WAS NOT FOUND, BECAUSE GOD HAD TAKEN HIM”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

This chapter shows how faith with works coexist. That we must have both. It shows how those that first interacted with God used both. With faith as the cornerstone.

Without both, we are not welcome into heaven. If any say otherwise, they are teaching a false gospel and are subject to what that will incur.

 Galatians 1:6-10 NKJV – I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

They become twice cursed.

Now since we are in Galatians, I wish to point out the encounter between Paul and Peter, which many that cling to their false teachings of faith alone use as evidence that it is faith alone.

What is the key element of this encounter?

Galatians 2:11-14 NKJV – Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?

“If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of the Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews.”

This is the core element of this argument between Paul and once again Peter denying Christ by imploring Gentiles to live as the Jews do. What follows in this exchange?

The key element of this issue is addressed in the next two verses:

Galatians 2:15-16 NKJV – We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

This clearly shows that living by the laws alone without faith is wrong. This confirms that works without faith is dead.

We don’t get to the Truth of this letter until we get to chapter five which states this:

Galatians 5:16-26 NKJV – I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

When living within the Holy Spirit we become separated from the law by going through the personal agony and pain of our own crucifixion of the flesh. Turning from sin, which is an action, which is works.

The main thesis of this letter to the Galatians is a Spiritual level teaching for the most part. We see through faithful actions how to overcome earthly temptations.

Any who see only “faith alone” blinds themselves to the command to action through abstaining, refraining and turning away from sin. Anytime you encounter an act, an action. That is works through faith.

Any who say that all you need is faith and you are required to do nothing else says that Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Sarah, and Issac. That all these people acted in vain and for no purpose. Thus, calling the Word of God useless and a lie.

James 1:19-27 NKJV – So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

“but a doer of the work.” Equals an action, an activity, WORKS.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #257 (Come out of her My people) [Great Commission] Part 2


Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Until further notice the messages that accompany this notice will be part of the “Come out of her my people” series. They will be harsh. They will cause people to get upset. This is as it should be. They must question the way they think and live. So, they can seek to follow Christ and not the world.

Discussion

Jesus Christ through the “Great Commission” commands us to make disciples, not just save people. Last week I showed that at the core of seeking to be a True Disciple of Jesus Christ is Christ’s command to pick God over mammon. Simply to downsize. Now I will post the second part of the blog posts I made. However, before that I wish to show the response to this part of the message that it received. This post received 265 reactions. 179 likes. 77 loves. 6 caring. 3 laughs. This time only 3 comments all “amen.” This time it had 1092 views, but only 7 shares. Only .006%. Extremely sad.

So, here is the post:

Earlier this week I began these special posts about seeking after to becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ per the Word of God. In the first post I showed per the Bible itself that the core of discipleship is self-sacrifice and the requirement to downsize.

Luke 14:33 NKJV – So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Now. I wish to key in on the second major element of becoming a True disciple to Jesus Christ.

Luke 14:27 NKJV – And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Most do not fully understand the importance and the true meaning behind this verse. Yet it is extremely key to being a True disciple to Christ. Again, Jesus Christ Himself tried to explain this to help those that truly sought to be a True and complete “Christian” to come to understand. For you don’t listen. You cannot be a disciple and so in turn you are not truly “Christian.” Jesus tried to explain that there must be separation from the “world.”

Luke 9:57-62 NKJV – Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

When accepting to become a True disciple of Jesus Christ. A True “Christian.” We are not to look back at our past or how we lived our earthly lives. Most never do this and so in Truth are not “Christian.” For we are not a “Christian” until we become a disciple.

The True cost of taking up the cross is rejection from the world and the religious community. For the latter was and still is filled with those that seek after what is esteemed by the world and understanding that the laws are still in effect.

Luke 16:13-17 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

For when you teach the True Gospel you are not making people happy in how they now live, but you make them uncomfortable, and they will hate you just as they hated Jesus Christ and hung Him upon a cross.

You must accept and become something that will cause you to be laughed at. Called names and ridiculed just as the apostles, and the prophets were.

 Matthew 5:10-20 NKJV – Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Salt is bitter. So, then the Truth is bitter.

If what you are listening to is sweet. It is people pleasing and is twice cursed for those that speak it.

Galatians 1:6-10 NKJV – I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

The True cost of carrying the cross:

Jesus Christ: wiped brutally, and crown of thrones forced onto His head and then hung upon the very cross he was forced to carry.

Peter: crucified upside down.

Matthew: while preaching the True Gospel in Ethiopia was killed with by the sword.

James the lesser: thrown from atop the temple, which didn’t kill him and then was beaten to death with a club.

James the great: placed on trial by the religious community of Jerusalem and beheaded.

Bartholomew also known as Nathaniel was taken in what is present day Turkey had his entire body whipped till he had no skin left.

Andrew: crucified in Greece.

Thomas: was stabbed with a spear in India.

Jude also known as Thaddeous: was killed by arrows when he refused to deny his faith.

Phillip: was also peaching in the lands known as present day Turkey and was beheaded.

Simon the zealot: was sawn in half in Persia.

Matthias, the false apostle: was stoned and beheaded.

Paul: beheaded

Mark: tied to a team of horses and dragged through the streets of Alexandria, Egypt.

Luke: hanged in his homeland of Greece.

Stephen: stoned to death

John: boiled in oil yet lived. Then banished to Patmos and the only Apostle not to suffer martyrdom.

This is the cost of carrying the True cross and teaching the True Gospel.

However, how many actually teach it now in these last days? How many in the buildings called “churches” get angry and upset for hearing the Truth. Hearing that they are most likely not going to be in the service of God?

This is how the Truth works. It is not sweet. It is not people pleasing. The True Gospel is salt. It is bitter.

Those that share parts of verses that inspire and empower those that read it are again people pleasing. What does the Bible teach about pleasing people:

Galatians 1:6-10 NKJV – I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

Those that teach this are twice cursed. This is the True Gospel. Therefore, those encouraging you are cursed. Why? Because it doesn’t lead you away from sin but causes you to remain in sin.

Understand. Happy, happy, joy, joy. As well as “you are all powerful through Christ.” These types of messages will result in damnation not salvation.

What is required to be a disciple is as Christ taught over and over. Our rewards are not here, not now. Our service to God is now. This is why we are not to be focused upon ourselves but God.

We are only living a mere one hundred years. Our service to God begins now. For the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we are His and no longer our own.

Our calling is to lead others to discipleship. To get them baptized. To spread the Word of God. The True Word of God. Which means self-sacrifice and persecution.

Our joy comes through pain. Knowing that when we live for billions upon billions upon billions of year we will never cry or suffer ever again. That is where our rewards are to come from.

Matthew 16:24-27 NKJV – Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

The life referred to here is eternal life. To save someone’s eternal life they must abandon their earthly life.

This is the calling of True Discipleship. This is why Christ Jesus made it clear. It is God or mammon. For mammon brings in darkness and blinds us to God through His Son our Savior.

Seek True Discipleship now. Stop trying to have a pleasant life here on earth. For our perfection comes when we dawn our eternal body.

God Bless

Blog Post for another Special Podcast (Those of the last days and whom they truly worship)


Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Until further notice the messages that accompany this notice will be part of the “Come out of her my people” series. They will be harsh. They will cause people to get upset. This is as it should be. They must question the way they think and live. So, they can seek to follow Christ and not the world.

Discussion

The younger people are starting to awaken to the Truth, or are they?

Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to talk about the last days and what to look for.

2 Timothy 3:1-7 NKJV – But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Let’s continue hearing what is within this third chapter of the second letter written to Timothy the pastor of Ephesus. For it is important to the full context of this letter.

 2 Timothy 3:8-17 NKJV – Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

We are not done yet. Just because the chapter ends, doesn’t mean the context of the letter does. Therefore, let us continue into chapter four.

2 Timothy 4:1-7 NKJV – I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

This constitutes the full context of this section of this letter to Timothy. We see within the warning about how those that teach falsely will work. Actually reaching a point to where they will be telling people fables.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV – For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

In recent years one of the greatest fables has become world famous. By the mere fact that it was and is so popular shows it is of the world and not of God.

For if it was of God most would despise the show called “The Chosen.”

It has created many that think they are now going to heaven and now call themselves “Christian.” When that is the furthest thing from the Truth. Most actually fit the description of those within the first few verses of chapter three of the second letter to Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV – But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Those that truly seek to be in followship with God through Jesus Christ are given one instruction.

“And from such people turn away!”

Why? because they will, in time, do one of two things. Either turn you away from God, or they will attack you.

2 Timothy 3:12-13 NKJV – Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Many actually believe they TRULY follow God through Jesus Christ. However, this is the furthest thing from the Truth.

The biggest clue. How they live. Most that call themselves “Christians” still live exactly like they did before they accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. For it is easy to become saved:

Romans 10:8-10 NKJV – But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

However, even though you are saved the moment you confess that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is you Savior. You are not guaranteed a place in the service of God. In fact, you can lose your salvation. Most of 2 Peter chapter 2 covers this. Note the last verses of this chapter:

2 Peter 2:20-22 NKJV – For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

This can be corrected. All it needs is the true desire to be a servant of God through Jesus Christ. To become a disciple.

This, however, is a difficult path and requires knowing that most that now accept you. Especially those that call themselves “Christian” will reject you.

Yes, you heard that correctly. Most will turn against you.

The starting point.

Matthew 16:24-27 NKJV – Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Luke 14:25-33 NKJV – Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Re-read these last verses again. For they pertain to now just as they did then.

Most are within “the great multitude” that now profess they are Christian and say they follow Him. Yet, what does Christ say to them?

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

This means we are to not think about ourselves in any form. We are to adhere to the greatest commandment:

Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV – Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

God is to be the focus of our existence. The way to help achieve this is by studying the Word of God in its base language when it was first placed on parchment. This makes you realize that what is being stated here is the Truth.

That we are to avoid anything of the world beyond what is needed to make it to the next day. Even if our earthly income allows us to have more. We shouldn’t seek after it because then we are no longer friends with God but the world.

James 4:4 NKJV – Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

The main reason to live a needs-only lifestyle is that it will help us focus upon God who is to be the center of our existence. Not us like most that teach their false teachings that are people pleasing.

Galatians 1:6-10 NKJV – I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

People pleasing messages are sweet like sugar. Those that teach the True Gospel are to be like salt. Bitter to the taste. However, it improves the meal.

Luke 14:34-35 NKJV – “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

God Bless

Call to Discipleship per the Word of God (part 3)


In the first part of these special posts, it was shown through the Bible that we are:

  1. Called to make disciples not just save people. Just saving them will actually result in them ending up no longer saved, but damned.
  2. That to be a True Disciple of Jesus Christ and thus a True “Christian” we must follow the command given to the young rich man in three different gospels because this is mandatory if we truly wish to be a disciple of Jesus Christ:

Mark 10:21 NKJV – Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

In the second part of these special posts, it was shown through the Word of God that we are to teach the True Word of God and Gospel. This will result in those doing so being hated by not only those that deny God and in turn His Son Jesus Christ. However, we must also become hated by those within the religious communities. For they do as those that deny God do. They seek after mammon and as disciples we are called to remove as much mammon as possible from our lives to the point of living a needs-only lifestyle. This would result in those that are True Disciples to be hated to the point that they would become repugnant to all for teaching the True Gospel.

In today’s special post we continue this part of the same lesson. At the end of the last lesson, we saw a list of those that were killed for preaching the Truth. Starting with Jesus who then rose from the dead on the third day. Then the list of all the apostles except John, and many of the disciples called to follow Christ in the first hundred years after Jesus ascended into heaven.

They died not only because they were teaching to heathens, but they also died because they taught to those that called themselves followers of God, but what they really worshipped was themselves and their mammon.

People don’t want to hear that they are living in sin within the religious community. Especially those that believe with all their hearts they are going to heaven. When they are actually going to hell. This obviously upsets them. Because how they wish to live, and think is more important than God. This was played out as I posted these special posts. I received tons of likes and shares for the first post. But the second post received hardly any.

There were plenty of responses. Mainly from those either denying God and Jesus. However, there were those that wish to impose their ideas on how to be a disciple. In other words, they wish to add to the Word of God.

Deuteronomy 4:2 NKJV – You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

In these posts you will see nothing added to the Word of God nor will you see anything taken away from the Truth.

To be a True disciple of God per Jesus Christ Himself we MUST live a needs-only lifestyle and spread the Word of God as well as help those in need.

Per Jesus Christ Himself it is either God or mammon. Mammon is an Aramaic word and was used and kept within the Word of God on purpose because it means many things all at once.

Mammon is riches which is jewelry and fancy clothes which we are not to seek after, because this is something the world seeks after, and anything form the world is from Satan.

2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT – Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

Mammon is money. Therefore, any that horde their earthly wealth is like the rich man in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16. In Luke 16 this is also stated by Jesus Christ:

Luke 16:13-17 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

Before we talk about the word “esteem,” we will continue to define the word mammon,

Mammon is possessions like all the junk throughout people’s houses that do nothing but gather dust in rooms that aren’t even used every day as well as multiple and expensive vehicles. Vehicles are cars, trucks, boats, RVs, jet skis etc.

Mammon is property like a huge house or multiples houses (RVs qualify as a house) and land filled with nothing. One small house is all we need to live in. The purchase of anything else is a waste of money that is to be used to spread the Word of God and to help those in need. Thus, those that call themselves “snowbirds” and have a house in a northern state and another in a southern state are more accurately described as “hellbirds” for that is where they are heading: to hell.

Jesus made it clear it is God or mammon. For the world esteems those that have an abondance of mammon. For it shows they are fully committed to worshipping the world and not God as well as worshipping themselves.

James 4:4 NKJV – Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Those that wish to truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ are to give up all that is earthly for what is holy. They are to place God first above all else and to place others before themselves (Matthew 22:37-40). This cannot be accomplished when keeping mammon that goes beyond our needs.

A need clothes us till tomorrow, not a huge closet filled with tons of clothes that gather dust from never being worn.  A need feeds us till tomorrow. A need shelters us to tomorrow. This is a small house, a cheap vehicle and cheap clothing to cover our nakedness. All else is mammon and what the world esteems.

All else is an abomination in the sight of God and thus equal to the antichrist and worthy of being call damnable and a curse. Therefore, all that pursue them are not going to an eternal life in the service of God. They are the lukewarm and have been vomited out of the Body of Christ for they are headed to the lake of fire for they have rejected to becoming a True Disciple of God through Jesus Christ. Thus, are not worthy of the title “Christian.”

Call to Discipleship per the Word of God (part 2)


Earlier this week I began these special posts about seeking after to becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ per the Word of God. In the first post I showed per the Bible itself that the core of discipleship is self-sacrifice and the requirement to downsize.

Luke 14:33 NKJV – So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Now. I wish to key in on the second major element of becoming a True disciple to Jesus Christ.

Luke 14:27 NKJV – And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Most do not fully understand the importance and the true meaning behind this verse. Yet it is extremely key to being a True disciple to Christ. Again, Jesus Christ Himself tried to explain this to help those that truly sought to be a True and complete “Christian” to come to understand. For you don’t listen. You can not be a disciple and so in turn you are not truly “Christian.”

Luke 9:57-62 NKJV – Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

When accepting to become a True disciple of Jesus Christ. A True “Christian.” We are not to look back at our past or how we lived our earthly lives. Most never do this and so in Truth are not “Christian.” For we are not a “Christian” until we become a disciple.

The True cost of taking up the cross is rejection from the world and the religious community. For the latter was  and still is filled with those that seek after what is esteemed by the world and understanding that the laws are still in effect.

Luke 16:13-17 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

For when you teach the True Gospel you are not making people happy in how they now live, but you make them uncomfortable, and they will hate you just as they hated Jesus Christ and hung Him upon a cross.

You must accept and become something that will cause you to be laughed at. Called names and ridiculed just as the apostles, and the prophets were.

 Matthew 5:10-20 NKJV  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Salt is bitter. So, then the Truth is bitter.

If what you are listening to is sweet. It is people pleasing and is twice cursed for those that speak it.

Galatians 1:6-10 NKJV  I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

The True cost of carrying the cross:

Jesus Christ: wiped brutally, and crown of thrones forced onto His head and then hung upon the very cross he was forced to carry.

Peter: crucified upside down.

Matthew: while preaching the True Gospel in Ethiopia was killed with by the sword.

James the lesser: thrown from atop the temple, which didn’t kill him and then was beaten to death with a club.

James the great: placed on trial by the religious community of Jerusalem and beheaded.

Bartholomew also known as Nathaniel was taken in what is present day Turkey had his entire body whipped till he had no skin left.

Andrew: crucified in Greece.

Thomas: was stabbed with a spear in India.

Jude also known as Thaddeous: was killed by arrows when he refused to deny his faith.

Phillip: was also peaching in the lands known as present day Turkey and was beheaded.

Simon the zealot: was sawn in half in Persia.

Matthias the false apostle: was stoned and beheaded.

Paul: beheaded

Mark: tied to a team of horses and dragged through the streets of Alexandria, Egypt.

Luke: hanged in his homeland of Greece.

Stephen: stoned to death

John: boiled in oil yet lived. Then banished to Patmos and the only Apostle not to suffer martyrdom.

This is the cost of carrying the True cross and teaching the True Gospel.

Call to Discipleship per the Word of God


Forty days after Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He left this temporal existence to return to where His Father our Creator can be found. As He left, He gave us what has been called the “Great Commission.”

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”

I am making these special posts to do just that. Teach people that are willing to hear the Truth to become True Disciples of God through Jesus Christ.

Most that now profess to being “Christian” truly are not. Many may never have been, and those that were truly saved have turned away from God because they do not wish to become a disciple.

Jesus made it clear what is required to become a true disciple.

Luke 14:25-35 NKJV – Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Most that now profess to being “Christian” have not counted the cost. They have built a foundation and then run out of spiritual money to build the tower of discipleship. They have become salt without flavor. Good only to be thrown out into the trash to be burned. Burned in the lake of fire for billions upon billions upon billions of years.

Jesus made the cost very clear:

Luke 14:33 NKJV – So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

This is reenforced here:

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

“And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

This is the core of discipleship. It is from here that is the beginning of truly being called “Christian.” For it is made clear that nothing of this world is from God and so is evil.

1 John 2:15-17 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Jesus Christ Himself taught this lesson on the Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 6:19-24 NKJV – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Because most refuse to downsize their eyes are filled with darkness. To bring light into their eyes they must remove from them earthly mammon.

Mammon is defined as riches (jewelry and fancy clothes), money, possessions (objects that gather dust and vehicles) and property (owning huge houses and/or multiple houses as well as land filled with nothing useful to those in need).

This must start immediately if you truly profess to being a follower of Jesus Christ. For as mentioned before it is the core of showing you are a follower of God through Christ and must start right this moment. This is not me saying this. This as shown came from the Word of God itself and is required now. For time is quickly running out.

Blog for Podcast special (Come out of her My people) [We are to make disciples not just save people]


Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Until further notice the messages that accompany this notice will be part of the “Come out of her my people” series. They will be harsh. They will cause people to get upset. This is as it should be. They must question the way they think and live. So, they can seek to follow Christ and not the world.

Discussion

The other day I had an encounter with someone that insisted that our great commission was to save people and that is all we need to do. Well let’s look at the great commission:

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of Jesus Christ, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of Jesus Christ, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”

Christ makes it clear that baptism is a major requirement:

John 3:5 NKJV – Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

However, if you note the verses of the great commission, baptism is not the core of the sentence given by Jesus Christ. Let us for the moment remove the baptism and examine the core of the sentence:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations teachings them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”

It is here that is the core of today’s study. For it is extremely easy to become saved yet it is difficult to be a disciple.

John 3:16 NKJV – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Acts 16:31 NKJV – So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Yet all this does is make babes in the woods. Woods filled with wolves seeking easy prey. For this is their fate:

2 Peter 2:20-22 NKJV – For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

This is what happens when all people do is save people and not turn them into disciples.

What is the requirement to become a true disciple of Christ?

Luke 14:25-33 NKJV – Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

The two key statements in these verses:

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

And

“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

This goes all the way back to the sermon on the mount when Jesus Christ says this:

Matthew 6:19-24 NKJV – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Mammon is define as riches (jewelry and fancy clothes), money, possessions (objects that gather dust and vehicles), and property (huge houses and multiple house and large areas of land filled with nothing.)

This is why this statement is made by Jesus in Luke chapter fourteen:

Luke 14:33 NKJV – So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

This is verified here:

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

As will as the story of the young rich man found in three gospels:

Mark 10:17-21 NKJV – Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,’ ‘DO NOT MURDER,’ ‘DO NOT STEAL,’ ‘DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.'” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

“One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

Earlier I showed Christ’s teaching about living a needs-only lifestyle. However, there was much more taught at the Sermon on the Mount. Key elements like I will show here. Things that we are commanded by Jesus at the great commission to teach.

Give in secret:

Matthew 6:1-4 NKJV – “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Pray in secret:

Matthew 6:5-7 NKJV – “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Fast in secret:

Matthew 6:16-18 NKJV – “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Therefore, from these commands by Jesus Christ we learn this.

That most that go into the buildings called “churches” are not following a true discipleship.

Why is this said?

Many make a show of giving. Especially in church. Thus, it is a sin. Everyone prays in churches. Yet we are told not to pray in churches but to pray at home in total privacy. Away from any to hear or see you.

I know of people who make a big deal about the fact that they are fasting. Again, a sin.

Therefore, churches do more to lead people to damnation than salvation and it is damnation that is worse for them then to have gone to it without first coming to know Jesus Christ as mentioned in 2 Peter. Which, I actually believe is the true purpose. Which is an open deviance against the great commission and shows that those that do not teach Ture discipleship do not teach the Word of God at all.

Which explains that when the person I first mentioned at the beginning of this podcast started to call me names. Thus, giving further verification to this teaching. For what does the Word of God say about this:

Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV – Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #249 (Come out of her My people) Part 10 [Deny Yourself]


Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Until further notice the messages that accompany this notice will be part of the “Come out of her my people” series. They will be harsh. They will cause people to get upset. This is as it should be. They must question the way they think and live. So, they can seek to follow Christ and not the world.

Discussion

Deny yourself.

What most refuse to do but it is required by God through Jesus Christ:

Matthew 16:24-27 NKJV – Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

“If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up the cross and follow Me.”

I know of many that do post after post and to glorify themselves in the so-called name of Christ. This is in no way denying themselves. This is worshipping themselves.

Count the cost.

Luke 14:26-33 NKJV – “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—“

“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

This is a direct command to live a needs-only lifestyle and to sell off all our possessions and to give to the poor.

Mark 10:21 NKJV – Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 NKJV – Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Any who challenge this and says God has rewarded them with earthly mammon shows they have listened to the lies of Satan and need to repent.

Crucify your flesh.

Galatians 5:22-26 NKJV – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

The passions and desires is to own and keep their mammon and to seek to satisfy the lusts of their flesh.

Leave the world behind.

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

Never seek after what the world esteems anymore for that makes you an abomination in the sight of the Lord.

Luke 16:13-15 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Come to Christ on His terms.

Matthew 11:25-30 NKJV – At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

The labor is the spreading of the Word of God. For when you spread the True Word of God you will be persecuted and attacked. Especially by those that are false Christians. Just as Christ was.

Repent of your sins and believe and teach the True Gospel which will result in you being hated.

Mark 1:15 NKJV – and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Be fully committed to God through Jesus Christ.

Luke 9:57-62 NKJV – Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

This is how most, especially those that go to the buildings called “churches” act and behave. Refusing to commit themselves fully to Jesus Christ.

Most don’t want to hear or accept these Truths. They want to live their lives as they desire. Living in sin and believing they are all set with God. This is the furthest thing from the Truth. Christ made it very clear.

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

This is why in three different gospels there is story of the young rich man.

Mark 10:17-25 NKJV – Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,’ ‘DO NOT MURDER,’ ‘DO NOT STEAL,’ ‘DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.'” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

This young rich man lives a very religious life. He is a member of the synagogue and is loyal to God. This is why Jesus Christ looks upon the young man lovingly. This is how most that go to buildings called “churches” live and behave. They too refuse to downsize. Most do exactly what the young rich man did. They reject their salvation and turn away from Christ. All because their mammon is their first love. Mammon which is defined as riches (jewelry and fancy clothes), money, possessions (objects that gather dust and vehicles) and property (huge houses and multiple houses as well as large areas of land filled with nothing). Just what Christ says we must abandon, however, most refuse to do so.

So many think they are special and exempt. It is truly and completely sad. They are so proud and pompous.

Proverbs 16:18 NKJV  Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

Too many believe they are special and exempt. Thinking they shall not be subject to being left behind.

Romans 2:11 NLT  For God does not show favoritism.

Most that believe they are special and exempt believe they have a special standing before God. However they have never truly abandoned the world. They are the lukewarm it is so sad to hear this and see this, but this is the truth. A truth that will only be made clear upon that day that Christ comes as a thief in the night. A truly sad day for most.

God Bless