Relationship

Watered down faith

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More and more I see and witness things that just astound me. As I have stated in other post believe in God, His Son Jesus and the Bible is black and white. Yet I see those that have fallen for the propaganda given out by the humans. When you think upon it who are the humans going to favor? Why themselves of course.
So this is a huge factor in how people come to treat their “beliefs.” God through the Bible makes it very clear. Live in sin or out of sin. Living out of sin does not mean you will never sin, but when it happens you will feel guilt. It is this guilt people do not wish to experience. So they try to tell all that the world is no longer black and white but is grey. They try to shut down those that are saying the truth by call them the liars, judges and the hate mongers when in reality they have become the liars, judges and hate mongers. They are so determined to be allowed to live in sin that they blind themselves to what is written in the Bible. Even to the point of using the Bible to accomplish their goal. Taking selectively from it yet ignoring important statement and facts mostly spoken by Jesus Christ Himself. You must take the entire book and you must know the entire book for those that hate God know the entire Bible and use it to their advantage.

It is truly life changing.

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When you ask Jesus to come into your life you change. This is something many have not experienced yet they say they have Jesus into their life.
There is a singer songwriter I once met. He was in a world famous hard rock band. He used drugs, he drank alcohol and he enjoyed the company of many a groupie. One day he reached a low point in his life and upon that day He asked Christ into his life. The next day when he awoke he no longer was addicted to drugs, alcohol made him want to vomit and he became faithful to his wife. He now writes and sings about God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the most extreme example I know that shows how instantaneously and complete Jesus coming into your life can be.
In my own life I remember entering into the age of accountability at thirteen and seeing the boy I had been no longer exist. I become a liar and I lusted after women and thought only of myself and my own needs and desires. Not caring if I hurt anyone. When I accepted Jesus into my life I knew form the moment it happened to this very day that the boy I had been to the age of twelve was now the man I am today. I could really see the change in my personality back to the one I had before the age of accountability came upon me.
If you think you have asked Christ into your life and yet you are exactly the same. Still living a life filled with sins as they are called and described within the Bible. Then I must ask: “Are you really saved?”

To deny why Christ went upon the cross is to deny Him

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Within the book of Leviticus is the laws Moses received from God upon Mount Sinai. Each sin is listed and every type of sacrifice is named according to each sin from minor offerings to even the death of the person. These sin are why Jesus Christ went to the cross and the sacrifice He made from being beaten, whipped, nailed to the cross and even His death were why Leviticus was written and why Christ did what he did.
Many in today’s world though do not acknowledge the book of Leviticus. They use the statement “Jesus died for our sin this book is now moot.”
I say, if you do not know what is a sin how can you know you are clean of it? All of the Bible is relevant and important:
2 Timothy 3: 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
If you deny any part of the Bible you are in essence denying Jesus Christ.
Matthew 10: 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
So I challenge all to read the book of Leviticus and accept what is written within it. If it is called a sin within that book then it is a sin. If it is still a part of your life and you feel no remorse in committing these sins or sin then are you in denial?

It is time for a revival

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Too long has those within the “church” gone about thinking they are saved and blessed and going to heaven. To long has this belief been handed down to the next generation to the point that these generations see the hypocrisies and so turn away from God. Not truly understanding that it is not God they are turning away but from man-made doctrines.
It is these same type of doctrines and behavior that faced the Jewish religion two thousand years ago when Christ came to fulfill prophecy. The religious leadership was so blinded by their lust for power and control that they failed to recognize the true Messiah.
This is how the “church” is today. Too few are truly “Christian” and most of these struggle to maintain their beliefs. Bombarded from inside the “church” as well as from outside it. Many that were “Christian” have fallen away back into a life of sin. Many that think they are “Christian” live on day to day not realizing that they are actors in a play and in reality are hypocrites.
But who will be the leader to come forward and challenge all to set forward and change not only for their own good, but for the sake of the children and their children’s children? I have no answer. For I am but a voice in the wilderness of the internet. A voice upon the wind that some will hear and others will ignore, but this is my destiny, this is my calling, and I will not shirk it, for I know it is what God wishes me to do.

Christians and the vote and why it is important to place God first.

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Let’s start with the greatest commandants given by Christ:
Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
First and foremost as professed children of God we are to place Him first in ALL that we do. This includes voting. That is why I have come to the point that when I go to the ballot box I do not say “I am voting for so and so” I say “I am voting for God.”
Now yes I know no one is perfect and we all sin. That is why it is so important to go and vote for God. We must find someone that reflects God as much as possible. Will this person win? Maybe not, but we placed God first. If that there is no one left that we feel best represents God then we must choose as the statement goes “the lesser of two evil.” In other words the one that is closest to God.
Now we get to the next part of what I want to try and get across.
Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
This statement Jesus made to me is the key of where all Christians should come from when they go to vote after the afore mentioned Luke 10:27. Why? Because we as Christians should always think like this. Now some would say that there is the separation of church and states. I would say being Christian and following the first verse I placed here does not give you that option, but let’s look at the first amendment anyway:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances,
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion: The government has no right to make any law to make a religion. Now why say this? This is because of what Henry the Eighth did so it would allow him to live in sin and end up marrying several times. This was a key element that led people to come to America in the first place. To freely practice their faith without the government getting involved.
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: This is the most important statement in the First Amendment about religion. This is the core of the statement “separation of church and states” What this means is that the government cannot stick its nose into religion NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, but many have been taught it is the other way around. As you can see that is not the case and needs to be remembered and passed on to all so they will know what is the truth.
Per Luke 10:27 if we place God first we must place religion into how we deal with government which first and foremost is the ballot box which leads me to Matthew 10:33. One party has officially removed the word God from any of their public documentation. So to me they are denying Christ and so Christ is denying them to God.
With that in mind and remember Luke 10:27 we as Christians have one full party we should never support in anyway shape or form until they see fit to once again officially acknowledge God. So to me there is no Democratic Party. This leaves Independents and Republicans.

The hippie Jesus is alive and well but the true Christ is hard to find.

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People have this misconception of Jesus Christ. They think He is all love and tolerance. This is a false narrative. It is a narrative designed to allow people to do as they please and think they are one with God when in reality they are not. Jesus said this about who he is:
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Yet today many think that He came to destroy the law. They believe that to live in sin is fine and dandy. Not giving up anything that was called a sin in the Old Testament, but if Christ truly came to fulfill the law and the prophets then we must still adhere to what is written in the Old Testament.
Yet that is not how most think, feel or behave. I am once again reminded of 2 Peter 2 and my heart is saddened and I do not know what to do other then write these words. Hoping and praying they will allow the scales to fall from the eyes of someone and to see the truth.
A truth that is a painful pill to swallow, but a truth that must be said and given. The other day I mentioned Leviticus to someone and they did not understand. Yes it is true that there is no longer a need to make the blood sacrifices as were shown within that book for yes Jesus Christ taking our place upon the cross made that no longer necessary, but the list of actual sins has not gone away. They are still present for human beings are still corrupt and we shall remain so until we are given our new and eternal bodies.
Yet people go about thinking they are now within these bodies just because they asked Jesus into their heart. This is the furthest thing from the truth. Time and again we are warned with the New Testament to watch our steps and to keep God ever present and first above all else.
When you place God first you must follow what is taught by His Son. Do not sin, turn from sin. I have mentioned John 15, I have mentioned 2 Peter 2 and I have shown people Revelation 3:14-22.
Yet people still come back and say “It is not black and white.” I am sorry to once again say this, but yes it is. Christ Himself, within His glorified body told this to John:
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
So if Christ Himself says that you must be cold (black) or hot (white), then how can you possibly tell me it is not what Christ Himself said it should be?

Where does God fit?

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My pastor made an excellent point on facebook the other day. Where is the church when it comes to helping the poor and those in need? Gone are the large charity drives, gone are the charitable organizations that once flourished before World War II. Now most go to church seeking appeasement and stroking. Most that go to church live in expensive homes, drive fancy cars yet go about saying their life is terrible and a mess. Well that is why. Those that go to church have their priorities messed up. It is not “God give me give me.” It is “God what can I give what can I give.”
Today’s “Christians” have lost their way. They go to church on Sunday and believe that is all that is required of them to get into heaven. Well, per the Bible it is not. (Revelation 3:14-22; John 15 and 1 Peter 2).
Jesus made it clear it is harder for the rich to make it into heaven then it is for the poor. He also stated that if you seek your reward here in this temporal live less would be your reward in the eternal life still to come. Wouldn’t you rather have more for a few billion years then live wealthy and comfortably now for up to a hundred? I would rather have my reward come to me in the eternal life to come.
Again I must address this false teaching that has become the mainstay of most religions. Many have this image of going to heaven and sitting about doing nothing. Others have this believe that there is nothing beyond this temporal life. While even others believe you can fix your mistakes in purgatory or come back as another life form. These are all false.
If purgatory were real I would say you are living in purgatory this very minute. Are you trying to work through the sins you live with every day? Yes even though those that say they are saved still need to be ever aware that they are human and can sin for we are human and the human heart is corrupt. (Matthew 15:18-20).
Yes we are saved, but we are warned in 1 Peter 2 that we can fall back into sin and that it will be worse for us for having known Jesus’ love and salvation. I believe this with all my heart that is why I make these messages for I know there are sins still within me that need to be removed. I know that I am saved I know I am a child of God, but I listen to the word of God and know that it can be lost once again.
I do not ever wish to be a “Sunday Christian” and live in hypocrisy, thinking I am saved and going to be with God when I really am not. This however is how most that go to church are and is why charities have fallen on hard times. Why people are turning to the government and not God which is exactly what those that wish to rule over other wants. It is those that have power and wish to stay in power encourage. They love that the church no longer cares for those in need. They relish that people either do not go or once they leave forget that they have ever been till the next Sunday comes around and starts the cycle of hypocrisy all over again.
So to answer the question to the title of this post. God should be number one then everyone else second and then just maybe you. So stop trying to succeed in this life, but instead try to succeed in the life that is to come. The true existence that anyone that truly calls themselves “Christian” should seek after. Give to charities within the church, volunteer your time and money unto that which is precious to God and in return you will be given rewards beyond measure. Most likely not in this life but in the eternal life yet to come.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: Only through Christ

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I use to be a liar. I use to lust after women. I use to be a selfish self-centered piece of garbage. I use to think people owed me something. I had a few other sins that are even too heinous to place into this post.
Throughout my childhood and teenage years I looked at and read the Bible as well as watched movies with a Biblical theme, but I never REALLY asked Christ into my life. I was like most out there in the world, thinking myself to be a Christian but in reality I was not. I was at the most a hypocrite at the least an ignorant male. I thought myself to be a good person, but I saw more than once how I hurt others, was it intentional? Sometimes I would have to say yes.
On June 24th 1986 everything changed for me. On that night I asked Jesus Christ into my heart. On that night I was filled with the Holy Spirit. I stopped being a liar that day and I stopped be selfish and self-centered. Did I mess up? Yes I did. Did I totally stop lying? No I did not, but I was no longer the liar that I was. Living a lie within a lie to hide a lie. No that person died that night and the person I was when I was twelve returned to live within me and so lying become something that happens very rarely.
Do I still do selfish acts? Yes I do, but not to the degree that all that is important to me is me. I am quick to realize that I have done a selfish act and I feel remorse and sorrow over my actions and when possible I ask forgiveness from the person I have wronged. (Which is usually my wife). I have a conscience now where before I did not.
Not all my sins died that night. Some sins are still with me, but as each day passes these sins fall away dead and useless. It was not till a few months ago that I stopped lusting after women. As for my more heinous sins those did die that summer night in 1986, but I know for a fact that they did cross my mind once or twice in the last twenty-nine years but I turned it over to God through Christ and soon those thoughts fell away dead once again.
I know it is Satan testing me. I know it is also God pruning me and making me into not only a better servant unto Him but a better person.
I write this confession hoping it will shine a light unto to those that are like I was. Thinking they are “Christian” when in reality they are not. Through Jesus there is truly a removal of sin. You are no longer the person you once were. You are truly born again and you no longer think like you did just a short time before you asked Christ into you. I know that I become the person I was before the age of accountability took over and I fell deeper and deeper into sin. That person of sin is dead as are the sins that were within that version of me.
As I stated before. I am by no means perfect and any that say all your sins are taken from you when you are born again are not being honest; not only with you but themselves. It is an ongoing journey. One that will have no ending till God calls us unto Him.
As I said the other day to someone that posted “I thank God that I have awaken to another day.” my reply to them was “God let you wake up because you have forgotten to do something for Him.” Each day I awaken here in this temporal life I strive to understand what it is I have not done for God that makes Him say “It is not his time to come to Me.” Someday He will call me and it is then through my continued struggle to know and learn more about Him and His Son and their ways that I will know that I have done well for Him and I will look upon Him with joy and happiness, for I feel he will say unto me “You have done well.”

Let’s not shake the boat… it might sink.

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This is the mentality of many that call themselves “Christian.”
They are in a place of comfort. They are well off, well fed, and at easy in the place.
This is the home of the “lukewarm.” (Revelation 3: 15-16)
This is the home Jesus has made it clear you will be spit out by Him.
Yet here you sit saying: “Wow, glad this guy isn’t referring to me.”
Let’s let that last sentence sink in a moment.

God has made it clear that you MUST be HOT or even COLD, but you must never be “LUKEWARM” or “gray” as I call it.
A “gray” is someone who walks the middle ground neither embracing fully sin nor fully the commitment to Christ. Most that call themselves “Christian” in today’s world are in reality “grays.”
Your views to yourself condemn sins yet when it comes time to confront these sins you sit at home in a chair and complain and do nothing about it.
When it comes time since through your action to vote for example you say the words “I am a Christian” yet you either do not vote or vote for a group that has denied Jesus. (Matthew 10:33)
You just handed a victory to Satan, congratulations, good job.
When it comes time to follow the laws of the land as we are instructed to do in Titus 3:1 and you choose not to do so you are a “gray,” congratulations, good job.
When it comes time to get out of your chair and do something for God, you decide not to for someone else will do it instead.
No one does it as all, because it was you that was supposed to do it not someone else, you are a “gray,” congratulations, good job.
When the Rapture comes and you find yourself left behind and you begin to weep when you realize you failed God, you are a “gray,” good job.
When you find yourself getting you head sawed off with a dull knife you realize you are no longer a “gray” and are dying for your faith and believe in God. CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD ONCE AGAIN!!!!!

I challenge you to be more honest.

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Now I am not saying that you the reader is lying, but I am saying you are not giving the full story. This is lying through omission, which is not correct.
As a result many that think themselves to be “Christian” in reality are not. A prime example is the Homosexual man that stood before the Supreme Court during the recent hearing about gay marriage. He held a sign saying he was both Christian and Gay, which per the Bible you cannot be both. You must choose one and abandon the other. Since he has embraced that he is gay, then he is not a “Christian.”
This is honesty, this is facts. Do I hate him for it? No, but I bet several of you reading this post just stopped and are refusing to continue to read. Those that did are in the wrong. While those that continue to read and will not verbalize and type as I just did are not being honest with themselves or those that we are commissioned to reach.
This leads people like this man down the wrong path. A path where they envision themselves living with their lover in heaven.
Again this is a misnomer. For instance Heaven is but a wait area until the time of the Rapture or the Great White Throne Judgment. We are not to live in heaven forever, this is a man-made falsify of not understanding fully the Bible. Do I know the Bible completely? No, but I know it more than those that believe these false teaching and continue to pass their errors on to others.
We are to study and know the Bible so we can be fully honest and upright with all. We are to talk to them in love and equality even though they may live in sin. For we are to counsel them on the errors of their ways so that they may grow in their faith and turn from their sins.
Will we lose all our sins immediately? No, for the most part, for we are humans and we are corrupt. Even Jesus stated in John 15 that God Himself would prune us, tearing away sin after sin so that each time as we grow in our faith we would bear new and sweeter fruit unto the Lord.
So again I challenge you. Be more honest with those you see can be reached and try to get them to understand that they must turn from all their sins even though it will take time to cast them off, but they must turn from those sins which are considered to be worse than others by the Bible itself. For to live in these you say to God that they are more important than He is and when the time comes he will say He does not know you.