faith

Prosperity – The Christian definition

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Per Merriam-Webster prosperity is defined as “the condition of being successful or thriving.”
But want does that mean to those that profess to be “Christian?”
What is Christian success? What is thriving as a Christian?”
The best place to start to look for this answer is in Mark. Chapter ten to be exact:
17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.” 20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
Here is the first and most important fact about Christian prosperity. This young man was rich and full of earthly prosperity and he even was a loyal servant to God and for this Jesus looked upon him with love. But Jesus knew his heart and knew that the world was more important to him than God. He was a true “lukewarm.” So Jesus offered him Christian prosperity, but to gain it he must surrender all his earthly prosperity.
Jesus makes it clear in these verses. That those with earthly prosperity will have a hard time gaining access into heaven and if they do their reward which is true Christian prosperity will be lacking.
So any that teach worldly prosperity are turning you away from Jesus not toward Him, and so are naked and poor. (Revelation 3: 15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”)
Mark 10:26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” 28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. 29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”
Here in these verses above Jesus makes it clear what true Christian prosperity looks like. He also makes it clear that it is not of this earth, and what is of this earth will persecute them. Those that are great in the world will become those that are the least notable in the eternal life that is to come, while those that are poor and the least same become great for billions upon billions of years. As I have stressed before, this earthly existence in which people seek that which is not Christian prosperity have at the most 100 years, and not even that amount to fully enjoy their earthly reward. While our eternal reward will last 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 of years, which is greater?
This is what Jesus says about material needs:
Matthew 6:24-34New Living Translation (NLT)
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

True faith does not involve religion

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It is man’s attempt to regulate faith that cause the creation of religion. Now it is true that when Moses went up to Mt. Sinai and was not only given the Ten Commandments, but he was also given a religion. A large document that became the book of Leviticus, but why is this?
It is because not all humans even those that were the descendants of Jacob would know “faith.” So as a result Moses was given a religion for humanity to follow. But within this religion, unlike any other religion before or after was interlaced those elements from which faith can come into existence and thrive separate from religion. For this is as it was meant to be. For true faith is the child within every human being from which grows the need to belief that God is real, and that His Son became, not a human sacrifice, but a divine sacrifice meant to allow those that have faith understand. That through this faith and following the teaching within the Bible which is called “works,” that humans can come to be with God eternally in His service which will be wondrous. For faith alone is not enough, but also works alone is not enough either. So that all understand: Religions equates in part to works, while just having faith is not enough to get you a white robe.
You see there are many that truly believe there is a God, but they live their lives as if there is no God. They live of the world except for two to three hours a week on a Sunday or Saturday and say they are one with God, when that is the furthest thing from the truth. Then there are those that just go through the motions of their religion and say all is well with them, yet this is not so either.
These are most of those of this time period for they are the “Lukewarm” and in Revelation 3:15-16 Jesus Himself makes it perfectly clear what their fate is. They are to be spit out of Christ. If they are spit out then what is their fate? They are not of the Body for they have been removed from the Body. In John 15 their fate is shown. For in this chapter of the Bible Jesus teaches directly to His disciples. He clearly states that He is the vine and the branches are those that are His. So they are saved. They have faith. Yet He goes on to say that those that do not bear fruit. This means they do not do “works.” Works, does not mean just to give to charity or volunteer, it means to follow clear instructions, but where are these instruction? In the Bible.
So if the Bible states you are to be humble, be humble. If the Bible states you are not to commit this sin or that sin. Then do not commit these sins. If the Bible says to treat all as you would treat yourself, then do so. These are fruit and if you bear no fruit what is your fate?
Per John 15, God Himself will break you from the vine that is Jesus and cast you to man who will gather you up and then cast you into the fire. But if you were saved how can this be? It is through faith that we know the answer to this and those with true faith understand. Here is the answer. You cannot live of the world and say you are of God. This is hypocrisy and is an insult to Him that created us all.
They also know that through true faith and also from John 15 that God will place those with faith through trials and tribulations time to time so that we will bear more and sweeter fruit unto God. So rejoice and repent of your sins, to never do them again even if it means you must suffer great emotional pain in doing so. Cherish the pain, learn from the pain and remember it for through its memory you will refrain from sinning once again. For this pain is nothing to the pain promised to those that chose the sin over God and all they have to blame is themselves.
You must give up your earthly lusts. You must turn away from sports; adultery, fornication, homosexuality, pedophilia, lying, greed, and all other selfish lusts and desires. For as long as you are more important to you than God you will not like where you end up. Only through true faith and belief in Jesus Christ will you see true and eternal joy.

“Once saved always saved” verses “faith without works is dead.”

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This is something that is extremely important for all to understand. The Bible does not work against itself.
So if the Bible makes it extremely clear that faith alone is not enough. How is the statement “once saved always saved” possible?
The answer is simple it is not.
This man-made doctrine would also negate the term “lukewarm,” which is exactly what those promoting this wish to have happen.
You see we are in the age of the “lukewarm,” per the book of Revelation. You see the order in which each letter to the churches by Jesus Christ in the book of Revelation is also chronological. The last church is the lukewarm church. Yes these churches can exist concurrently at this very moment, but if you really look into the situation each church reflection can been seen throughout history.
You see a “lukewarm” is someone that believes in Jesus, but lives within the world. This lifestyle is allowed to exist because of this concept of “once saved always saved.”
If you think you are saved then you are free to live however you wish, which gives those that follow this a false sense of security.
The best way to explain this is say you are in school and get an “F.” Your parents say you cannot go on any field trips until your grades improve. So here comes this great field trip to heaven, and you want to go so you defy your parents (God) and forge the permission slip to go on the trip, (by the way your signature for God is terrible so you get caught).
Do you get to make this field trip? No you don’t.
This is what “once saved always saved” is, a horrible child’s attempt to forge the name of God on the permission slip into heaven.
Yes you must have “faith.” Yes you must believe in God and that His Son is Jesus Christ. However, if you do not follow the teachings of the Bible, which is the “works” part, you are defying God and choosing yourself over Him. Since we are to love and honor God with all our heart, mind and soul, is this not a sin against God? The answer is yes.
So since the Bible states that faith without works is dead, then “once saved always saves” is death since it does not outright state you must do “works.”
NOTE: if you study the word “works” it does not mean give to charity, or volunteer, it truly means to follow the instructions in the Bible.

A teacher in the faith

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In the Bible it is made clear that people have different tasks to do for God. This is one of those things that many have not given much effort into for several decades. As a result many wonder through their belief in God lost and rudderless at times. I knew soon after being born again that I was to be a teacher of the Bible, but due to how churches are structured and if you do not attend certain man-made institutions then you are not welcome to do the calling that God placed upon you.
This man-made mentality is actually something that goes against what God wants. Did these men that run these businesses call upon me to teach? No, it was God who called me. Who should I listen to? For too long I listened to the men, the creation of God.
As I studied the Bible more and more. Digging deeper into the meaning of the Bible I learned to add items to help me gain insight and knowledge of what is being taught with the books that are now called the Bible.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance launch me like I was upon a spring board deeper in the Word. Things become clearer. Then, my brother, also a born again Christian added to my growth with the New Testament Theological Dictionary, in its unabridged form it is ten volumes long. Again my insight into God grew exponentially, yet do I know everything? By all mean no, emphatically no.
Am I a better suited to be God given role? Maybe.
I have learned that men have not grown in their true understanding of God’s word. Many stuck in the dogma of this religious view verses that religious view. Some to the point of disliking the way one group thinks verses how another group thinks. An example, Catholics verse Protestants.
Most even today do not wish to truly acknowledge that Jesus added to the original Ten Commandments to make them twelve, thus matching the number of tribes of Israel.
Many do not realize that Christ ministry was to the Jews and the Jews alone. It was not until Jesus appeared to Saul who then become Paul the thirteen disciple that the teachings of the Bible expanded to the Gentiles and thus the true birth of Christianity took place at that time since most before this time were Messianic Jews.
Much of what the Bible has become watered down or twisted to allow those that go to churches to live their lives unchanged yet feel they has accomplished something for God. But this is not a reality.
The Bible clearly states that you can be a child of God through Christ, yet if you bear no fruit you can be broken off of the vine, given unto man and then cast into the fire. When Jesus speaks in this context to “fire” he is saying unto damnation, yet there are those that say this is not so, but this is what the Bible states and so is fact.
This is my job as a teacher to make people awaken to these facts and challenge them to through the Bible prove me wrong, and if I am I am fine with that. However man-made doctrines like “once saved always saved” need to end. For since John 15 clearly states that someone is of the vine of Christ, thus saved, and God sees no fruit from someone and so God Himself breaks them off and they are cast into the fire. Then there is only one conclusion, you can, once saved, become lost and damned. This is not a scare tactic as I once read by someone that believed the false man-made doctrine mentioned above, but Biblical fact. This helps to cause people to strive to becoming a better child of Christ. Is this bad to become more like Jesus? Per the Bible, the answer is no.
Do not allow man to dictate your life for Christ. Let Christ direct you.

More than ever Christians must live as Christians

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Now as I posted the other day. Many that live in the United States and go to church believing themselves to be Christian. As I pointed out this is not the case. It is time for those that truly know what is required and honestly go through the daily endeavor to strive ever forward toward being a true reflection of Jesus Christ to no longer hide in the shadows.
You sit in the shadows, due to how those in these churches that say they are Christian react to you. Yet would rather talk about the football games later in the day, or the horrify mini-series they have been watching, or even more important the titillating tale about this celebrity or that celebrity.
They are showing that they are not saved or if they were once saved have instead chosen the world over God, they are sinners. Yet we are the ones made to feel uncomfortable. This is how it has been for decades and the now rotten fruit is bearing ever worse fruit.
It is time for those that truly know Christ to make a stand. Let it be known that the true way to Christ is not through the idol worship of sports, TV and celebrities, but through standing by the Bible.
Will this lead to ostracization? Most likely.
Will this lead to leaving your church? Possibly, it led me to leave mine.
Will it cause you to look differently at people in politics? Most definitely. Like myself Franklin Graham has left the Republican Party and call ourselves unaffiliated or independent. Why? Because we see the sin running rampant in this nation.
God is already punishing this nation for turning its back upon Him.
Do you think it is by accident that a person came into the presidency that has almost singlehandedly destroyed our international relationship and our internal cultural relationships? No. This is a judgment from the All Mighty. He did this to Israel more than once. Are we any different when our ancestors professed to being true servants of Christ?
This is what people need to awaken and realize. God is real. God does punish those that disobey Him, ESPECIALLY when they still have a purpose to Him in His grand design.
This nation, formed by those that wished to honor God. Whose basic governmental design came from a Quaker clearly shows that this is a truly Christian nation, brought into existence under the grace and blessings of the Lord God All Mighty.
Any that challenge this have turned their back upon God and wish for man to rule man, which only leads to destruction and disaster.
Those of us that are truly children of God must stand up and say with a loud clear voice. That ONLY through Jesus Christ can we accomplish God’s glory for this nation. Only through standing upon the principals that are taught within the Bible and teaching them to those that have an ear to hear will we once again restore this nation.
If we fail to stand up and make ourselves known and heard then this nation will continue in its downward spiral to destruction. If that is the case we must be willing to at the very least stand for God when it comes time to choose if we shall live or die, for it shall come to that point.
Since we failed to stand for God now, we must stand for God when they ask us to renounce our faith and when we do not we will shortly be standing before the All Mighty under the altar before Him.

Through great trails come great saints

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All about us the signs of sinning against God become the norm instead of the unusual. It is in these times of unbelief, doubt and outright disobedience that saints have risen to the top. Look at Job and Daniel for example.
In this year a horrific sin was exposed to the light and few saw it for what it truly was. The human sacrifice of babies has returned to this world sanctioned and supported by the governing powers of this nation. From it all other sins have flourished and grown. In return Judaism and Christianity have increasingly come under attack. The symbols of our faiths being torn down in the name of freedom and as a result more and more sin takes dominion and true freedom fades into non-existence.
As this happens fewer and fewer truly follow the teachings of God’s Holy Word.
Could it be by this lack of believe and faith that the Holy Ghost gives a greater portion to those that remain loyal to God?
Does this explain how parts of Acts 2:17 have become fact? Is it plausible that the rest of this verse is not far from coming to pass?
I believe so.
So as we move ever faster into the end times of humanity as a disobedient creation of the One and Only Creator I can’t help but look about and listen for news of actions by the few willing to stand against the masses and face whatever will occur even unto death itself.
Who is willing to stand up and shout: “ENOUGH!!!!!”
Only to have fewer and fewer listen till it is too late and the rise of the Antichrist takes place.
I see elements already falling into place that say: “Soon.. it will be soon.”

Who is blame for the state of the United States? The answer will surprise most.

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It is important to state that all need and should be free to make their own choices in life. What is also important is that these freedoms are not forced upon others who do not wish to participate. Yet there are groups within the United States that desire to do this very thing. Unfortunately people have not been taught correctly for decades. There are lifestyles that are called sins and as I stated in the first sentence all have the freedom and the right to choose to live in sin if they so desire.
Those in the Christian community fear one thing. They fear that they will be forced against their beliefs to say that sinning is good when by the Bibles definition it is bad. Only one group can take blame for this issue coming to this point and that is the Christian community itself. For too long the silence as been deafening from the pulpits and from church leadership. It is something that all within Christendom must come to acknowledge and accept. They have forgotten the great commandment to love and honor God first, then all others, then themselves. Too many that call themselves “Christian” think solely of themselves and what they can get from the world they now live within. This is not Christianity, but hypocrisy. They are acting the part of “Christians,” but in reality they are self-absorbed spoiled children that care only for one thing, themselves. This is not Christianity. It is this behavior that has been growing since the late 1960s that has encroached its way throughout the American church and it runs rampant in most churches especially in large congregations.
What is needed is for the Church to give itself a self-exam. All that call themselves “Christian” need to re-evaluate where they stand with God and if in reality they truly do honor and serve God.
What to look for in how you live your life if you are a “Christian:”

1 Place God First (Matthew 22:37). This means to say things like: “Does this please God?” “Would Jesus do this?” In everything you do, everything, and if the answer is no then you did not place God first.
2 Love all others as you would love yourself (Matthew 22:39)
3 Place all others before yourself (Philippians 2:3)
4 Teach the entire Bible (Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:16)
5 Teach your children (Proverbs 22:6)
6 Punish your child when they do wrong (Proverbs 13:24) “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
7 Follow the commandments (John 14:15)
8 Follow the laws that man places before you (Titus 3:1). This is the one that most ignored. Like for example speeding when you drive.
If you fail in most of these then you need to start doing some serious thinking for placing God first is something that must happen every day and when you do that you can love those about and place them first. You will learn the Bible and desire to teach others about it, especially your children and you will know that it is best to punish them when they do wrong for in the end they will not do it again and so follow the laws of man and of God.
If more had taught this and lived this we would have never reached where we are today. The good news is that we are one step closer to Christ return. Read 2 Peter chapter 2 to understand.

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 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.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: trials

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Trials come to all. It is what we are told will happen within the Bible. Some will be by God Himself. Testing our mind and our spirit. Challenging us to think, overcome, and if that does not work turn to His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
I have been going through one of these trials for about a month now. It is now time to put it into typed words what it is like to be going through this time of stress and hopefully growth in my faith.
From outward appearances the outcome seem to be bright, and bless by God. From within the struggle even though I do see the outward manifestation that is to come I still must make it through the dark tunnel to the light that awaits upon the other side of it.
It is not important the details of the trial before me, but it is one that in the long run will strengthen and hopefully allow my family to bond and to join as one. Through this trial I have seen the change within me from the man I was before my year of Job and the man I am today. I am actually doing things I only, maybe, thought of doing a few years ago. Now I know when the burden is more than I can carry on my own so I seek support from my soon to be wife and if that is still not enough we join together in pray. Turning over to God and allowing Him to lead us down the road He see that is best for us to go down. Should I go to pray first? I cannot answer that without thinking: “where is the growth?” A parent wishes his child to learn to stand upon their own two feet and not lean upon the parent anymore but to prove themselves to be adults. This I think is how God wishes us to grow as well. To stand upon our own two feet for as long as we can, but I must add that He wishes us to know when it is time to turn to Him and His Son and to seek their guidance and comfort.
It is hard to explain how to “know” which is the correct road, but I will say this. I can tell when it is me making the choice and when it is God directing me. I can sense within me that it is Him influencing me through the Holy Spirit, for I can tell it is coming not from within me, but from an external force that is guiding me down the right road.
It is important that people that call themselves “Christian” come to learn the difference, for when they do not, more times than not they listen to themselves more then they listen to God. As a result we have the society we now live within. A society full of pseudo-Christians, otherwise known as “hypocrites,” that cater to the latest whim and fad of “faith” being taught to them by those that have no real concept of God themselves. This is the thing that Jesus had to deal with when He walked the earth over two thousand years ago and had to deal with the leaders of the Jewish faith that would later crucify Him. They did not know because they did not listen God that Jesus was His Son, but on the third day when He rose from the dead all learned that He was truly the Son of God. Many today, even those that “lead” churches live like they are Pharisees.
A true believe in God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ is to have the knowledge within oneself that God is not “in” you. True the Holy Spirit can fill you, for I have felt the pouring of the Holy Spirit into me, but I also know that the spiritual world and the real world are two different places. God, His Son and the Holy Ghost can and have gone between these two realms. We cannot at this time, but we are promised that we will when we loss the corrupted with the uncorrupted. It is from the spiritual place that we receive direction from God, which is beyond this temporal form we now live in. When can learn the difference through trials of your faith, much like the one I am now going through. You learn how to grow in your believe in God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.