Goodmorning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to share something with you.
I’ve got a great recipe for beef jerky that was given to me by a neighbor. It is absolutely wonderful, but it takes a little bit of preparation time. Before I soak the meat overnight to marinate it and tenderize it, I first have to start by sharpening my knife until it’s like a razor. This is so that when I began to slice the meat, It is super thin. Even when I’m at the table, there are times when I need to keep sharpening my knife. When it is sharp enough, it will slice through that meat like a knife through butter.
This reminds me of the Christian Life
Whenever I use a knife at home, whether it’s filleting fish or cutting up some steak, it needs to be very sharp. But I know something that is sharper than any knife that you could ever use. It is God’s Holy Word, and it cuts right through, reaching the soul.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
If there is one thing that people can never argue with It is the teachings of Scripture. To those who try to fight against it will only find themselves fighting against God. There have been so many battles that have been fought in this world. There have been wars and rumors of wars, but the weapons that they use can only harm the flesh. God’s Word reaches into a place that other weapons cannot touch, into the soul, exposing the hidden darkness of sin within each person’s heart. It is a Spiritual sword, that can reach into the areas that no earthly sword can reach. It is the sword that many men of God have used for thousands of years for battle.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Many people actually believe that Jesus came to bring peace on the earth, but he didn’t. He came to bring the truth of God to the world. In a world that is filled with sin and darkness, people do not want to hear the truth, and they become greatly offended and even hate the words of those who preach it. This is because they are battling with the sword of God’s Word inside of their own hearts.
John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
God’s message of truth brings division, even amongst family members when they don’t accept teachings of Christ. There will be certain men, who when they make a decision to follow Christ, are going to find out that their enemies are closer than they think, because they are within your own family.
Matthew 10:34-36 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Whenever I decide to make jerky, the knife will divide a piece of meat in two. Whenever I split a piece of wood with my axe, it divides in two. This is what God’s Word does. Not everyone is going to have a desire to become obedient to the will of God. Not everyone is going to have a desire to obey His commandment and teachings. A lot of them are going to be within your own family. Instead of following Christ’s calling for them, they will follow their own. Instead of living lives for the Lord, they will live lives for themselves. Blood relationships don’t matter at all to God, what matters is becoming faithful and obedient to the teachings of His Son.
Luke 12:51-53 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
At judgment day, there will be some who make it into the kingdom of heaven, and some will be cast into a lake of fire. Although they were related by blood while here upon the earth, they never really transformed and conformed to God’s purposes. They never truly became converted in their heart. As we learn from what the Lord Jesus taught, it doesn’t matter who your blood relatives are, what matters is if you did the will of God, and humbly submitted to His calling. I think many people on earth want to believe that they will be in heaven. In the flesh there are many people who want to be a millionaire but for most people it’s not going to happen.
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Few are going to obtain it because most people refuse to become obedient. Let’s face it, in the carnal nature people are rebellious and disobedient. Those things need to change for anyone who wants to obtain the world that is coming. The kingdom of heaven is near, and the time to prepare is now. To serve Jesus means to do His will rather than your own. Those people are truly a part of God’s family. Those who choose disobedience will be cast away from his presence forever.
Matthew 12:46-50 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Although many people teach a heretical ” once saved always saved philosophy ” the only ones who are going to make it to heaven are the ones who chose to do the will of God. There will be some who become Christians, and then choose to leave the church. They become anti-Christ. In the parable of the sower, Jesus taught numerous examples of people who began the Christian life, but they didn’t endure.
The apostle taught that some,after hearing the word of God would believe a lie instead, which would eventually result in damnation of the soul. Make sure you hear me and hear me well….Baptism is only the beginning of the Christian life, not the end. It’s the first step of the race not the finish line. Obedience to the will of God is where you separate the sheep from the goats. That division begins here upon the earth, and will ultimately happen at the final judgment. Be forewarned, some people just are not worthy of God’s kingdom because they could care less about repentance and becoming faithfully obedient through a contrite and penitent heart. Jesus didn’t come to bring peace on earth but to preach using the sword of God’s Word. When you use the sword of truth, you will create a lot of enemies. The reason why is because this is the world, and the world will fight against the truth. This is because it pierces their souls.
Luke 2:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
It’s God’s truth. It’s God’s Word. It’s a losing battle, because it is a sword…..
……Reaching the Soul
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching tlkjbc, where you can find our recorded diary lessons, distributed through certain carriers, or by getting our entire podcast feed directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com, or I suppose, you can find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 