2 Timothy 2:1-3  “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

In 1996 here in Minnesota a brand new rollercoaster was built in the ValleyFair amusement park, known as the “Wild Thing.” Boasting a 200+ foot drop and reaching a top speed of 74 miles per hour, this rollercoaster is definitely is not a ride for everyone. With a G-force rating of 4.1, a rider will feel quite a rush as they travel through the twists, turns, and drops of the three minute ride.

In 2005, a local radio station of the area created a challenge for some of their listeners, and the challenge was that the last person left riding the rollercoaster would win a brand new car from the local dealership. Approximately 20 people were selected to participate in this challenge, and I was actually present there at ValleyFair when this was happening, and although I wasn’t one of the participants, I remember that the only break that the contestants got were a short bathroom break and a little bit of time to grab something to eat, then they had to get right back on again. 

Day and night the contestants had to ride this crazy rollercoaster, non stop, and as these types of endurance challenges go, one by one people would drop out, unwilling to continue any longer. Can you guess how long it was before there was a winner? 17….days! In fact, there were two winners, as neither of the last two wanted to give up, and the car dealership was so impressed with the will power of the last two contestants that they both received a brand new car. 

Now I should point out that this isn’t a “kid’s” type of a rollercoaster. This was a stomach turning, free falling monster of a ride, which took some courage to ride on just once, much less for two and a half weeks straight. That really is endurance, isn’t it?

When you endure something it means that “to continue or carry on, despite obstacles or hardships. To tolerate or put up with something unpleasant.” And this is the ability that we need to possess in our life as a Christian.

2 Timothy 2:8-12  “Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”

As a quick search through the New Testament will show, the Apostles of the Lord had to endure quite a few hardships and tribulations at the hands of others. They were hated, persecuted, reviled, stoned, imprisoned, and even some of them were killed because of their faith in the Lord, but because they desired to receive the prize of eternal life, they continued on. They persevered. They endured all the way to the end, regardless of whatever unpleasantness and hardships came their way.

The Kingdom of Heaven has no place for those who quit part of the way into their life as a Christian. You are either all in for the Lord, or you are not. You either live your life “to win,” or you don’t. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians, many people may run a race, but only one will receive the prize, so run to obtain. Run to win. There is no second place, just first.

And in this race that is our faith, there will be obstacles or impediments that may get in our way. Hardships that we may have to endure, temptations that we met have to overcome, but in the end, those who have lived their life for the Lord to win will receive the prize.

We will have tribulation. Will will have troubles, as the Lord teaches us, but we need to endure, just like Him.

John 16:33  “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

In Christ

Andrew 

When someone is employed at a store, they have certain duties that they are assigned to and required to do. A grocery store employee may have to stock the shelves, or bring out the fresh produce. A janitor will have to mop the floor, replace the paper towels, etc. A waitress will go back and forth from the kitchen to the tables as they bring out the meals for the customers. Whatever it is that they have been hired to do, they are required to do. That is their job. And because it is their job they don’t require to be thanked when they do the things that they are commanded to do. That is their job, that is their duty.

And on the day of judgment when we all go to give account of ourselves before God, no one should think that they deserve to be thanked for doing the things that He has commanded of us. We are “unprofitable servants” as it says in Luke 17, just doing our duty.

Luke 17:7-10  “But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”

Just as in a regular job somewhere, the life of a Christian is our duty. The Word of God contains all of the commands that we need to abide by and do, as well as not to do. We are commanded to love one another, and but just a select few, but to love your neighbor as yourself, meaning, everyone. We are commanded to be forgiving with one another, just as Christ has been with us. We need to be filled with patience, peace, joy, thankfulness, among many other things. 

To keep ourselves from sin is another command. To not let ourselves get involved in lies, covetousness, deceit, guile, hatred. These things are blemishes that affect our life as a Christian, and are unpleasing to the Lord, and He commands that we keep ourselves from those sins. This is our job. This is our duty.

1 Corinthians 9:16-17  “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.”

We are servants of the Lord, just doing His will for us. Just as Paul had written, when he preached the gospel to others, it wasn’t like he was doing something that required him to be praised for it. It was a command from the Lord to preach, and he was following that command. Just doing his duty for the Lord.

We are all unprofitable servants, with a job to do. Let’s get to it.

In Christ

Andrew

Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Matthew, but before we do that I wanted to ask you a question.

If you got into your car, and wanted to go get groceries, what is the first thing that you must do?  You must turn the key.  If you got into your truck and wanted to take the family fishing, what’s the very first thing that you must do? You must turn the key.  If you don’t turn the key, the vehicle is going nowhere.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

In order for us to convert and become obedient to the will of God we must first turn the key of humility in our hearts, otherwise you are not going to get very far at all.

Matthew 18:1-4  At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?  And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?  It is somebody who possesses the same heart and attitude that this little child had.  When Jesus called out to the child, he humbly obeyed Christ and did what he was told to do.  Conversion is a prerequisite to enter eternal life, and iIn order to become converted, it requires humble submission to the will of God.  Genuine humility will result in lowering yourself, and placing yourself underneath those who have authority over you.  Only through humbleness of mind can we yield to God’s purpose in our life.

1 Peter 5:5-6  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

The Heavenly Father resists those who are proud hearted. Three major qualities of the devil are pride, pride, and more pride.  The devil does not want to submit to scriptural truth because he is a liar and the father of it.  He doesn’t want to yield to God’s will, so he chooses to rebel and resist.  He is the enemy of God’s authority and the places of authority that he himself created upon this Earth.

Colossians 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

We will always have an authority above us, whether a dad on the first day that we were born, or God at His eternal judgment on the day that we die.  The carnal nature does not like being ruled or controlled, but chooses to live in a state of anarchy. Those who reject the path of humility will certainly be punished, both here upon the Earth and at the final judgment.

Hebrews 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

It is only through a humble mind that you will submit to those who have the rule over you.

Colossians 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Humility is the direct precursor to walking in daily obedience towards God.

Hebrews 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

A humble person is meekly obedient, and will yield to God’s authority.  Moses was used for great things by God, and was called the meekest of all men.  He humbly submitted to God’s purpose and calling in his life, just as a wife is to submit to her own husband.  God rewards obedience.

Ephesians 5:21-24  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

The Lord Jesus leads us by His perfect example of meek and humble obedience to the will of God.

Philippians 2:8-9  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

The only way to truly become converted and transformed is to yield yourself to God with a humble heart.

Romans 6:12-13  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

We must lovingly yield to God’s purpose, because sinful living and rebellion will only lead to death.

Romans 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

God resists pride, and lifts up the humble.

Matthew 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Remember that when the Lord Jesus called out to men to repent, some chose not to. When He called out to men to follow him, some wouldn’t.  When He called out to men to preach the gospel, some refused, but when he called this little child unto himself, the child humbly obeyed and stood by his side.  Who truly is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven? It is they who possess the humble quality evidenced in this child. Humility is the first step onto the path of obedience to God.  

James 4:6-10  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

If you really want to get down the path of conversion, you need to remember that it begins with humility, and it’s just a matter of….

……Turning the Key

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 diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️

tlkjbc.com

Isn’t it amazing how some things can change from one form to another in an instant? We can lay ourselves down in our beds at night, close our eyes, and almost instantly it seems that we are opening our eyes and it is morning. The entire night had passed in the blink of an eye, even though it may have been seven or eight hours. Just instant teleportation from night to morning. 

There have been times where I was starting a camp fire, and while I was throwing on a bundle of dry sticks apparently they were so dry that they caught fire immediately and the result was a giant explosion of flames that made me step back quickly. But not quick enough apparently, as the hair on my arms got completely singed away! One moment it was there, the next it was all gone.

And this is how the Bible teaches that our bodies will be changed at the coming of the Lord, instant transformation from the fleshly bodies that we see today into something completely new. A body that will be completely different than our bodies that we are in now. 

1 Corinthians 15:50-53  “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

Because of the way that our bodies are made, we die. Our bodies die because of sin, and it is for this reason that our bodies need to be changed before we can enter into the Kingdom of God. In Heaven there is no corruption. There is no decay or aging, unlike how it is on the Earth, and on the day the Lord returns our bodies will be turned from corruption to incorruption. Transformed into bodies that will not grow old, in the blink of an eye.

Philippians 3:20-21  “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

When Jesus died on the cross, it wasn’t His Spirit that died, just His earthly body. But now the the Lord is back in Heaven with the Father and He is back in His heavenly body once again, and on the day that we will go to be with the Lord, Jesus will transform our bodies to be just like His, bodies that can live forever.

It will be a great day, the day that the Lord returns and gives us brand new bodies. No more aching bones. No more sore muscles. No more aging and dying. Just an eternal lifetime in a body that never dies. And it will all happen, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17  “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

In Christ,

Andrew

In the later parts of the 1800’s, I think it is safe to say that some of the medical practices of the day were rather…questionable, to say the least. At that time it was believed that a certain liquid would be an excellent replacement for human blood. Do you know what it was? Milk. Yes, milk. The thinking was that because of the natural oils that are present in milk that it would turn into white blood cells, and while there are apparently a small amount of successful produres, a very large amount of procedures resulted in the death of the patient. 

Probably one of the most well known medieval and even colonial medical practices is the practice of bloodletting. At that time it was believed that bloodletting was a treatment for an entire host of ailments, all the way from something as simple as a sore throat to the plague. According to reports, George Washington, the first President of the United States, was riding his horse on a cold and snowy day around his estate of Mount Vernon. It is said that because he wanted to be on time for dinner, he chose to remain in his wet clothing until his arrival back home. Later that night he awoke feeling very sick, and had difficulty even breathing or talking, and asked to have some of his blood bled. For the next 8 hours he was bled over several bloodlettings, losing an estimated 40% of his blood. Whether or not this practice was the eventual cause of his death is unknown, but the theory of bloodletting as a medical practice has been largely discredited today.

But throughout the centuries, and through all of the “miracle elixirs,” medication and processes that have been used to combat sickness and disease, there is a method that unfortunately not enough people take advantage of. The power of faith and prayer.

James 5:13-15  “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

Did you see the cure for illness? The cure is prayer and faith! Not some kind of sketchy medicine which may or may not have several negative side effects. Not some kind of odd method it procedure. Prayer. And. Faith.

Prayer and faith are indeed very powerful things, things that not everyone seems to remember to turn to when they are feeling ill or “under the weather.” But there was a woman in the Bible who finally realized that the cure to her disease wasn’t found in doctors or medicine, but in something far greater.

Mark 5:22-34  “And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”

For twelve years this woman tried to find a cure for her sickness. Twelve years of going from physician to physician, pretty much at their mercy of whatever they did to her, but she didn’t get any better. Not only didn’t she get any better, but she spent everything that she had, only to get even worse! That’s like buying a pair of winter boots because you only have socks on, and they take your money and the very socks right of your feet and leave you with nothing! But this woman had heard about Jesus and the amazing miracles that He was performing, and in her heart she knew that He could heal her. She knew they His power was so great that she would only need to touch just the clothes of the Lord and that she would be healed. What stuff the Lord say was the reason that she was healed. Her faith. 

I feel that this is a passage of Scripture that many people read, but don’t actually let sink in deep into their hearts. They don’t really have faith enough to believe in the Word of God when it says whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive (Matthew 21:22). All things are possible to those who believe. Do you forget that it was through Elijah’s prayer that a child was brought back to life? 

1 Kings 17:17-24  “And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.

And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?

And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?

And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.

And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.

And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.”

This child’s soul had left his body! But what did Elijah do? He prayed! He had belief in his God that He could bring that young child back to life, and He did! No doctors involved, no medication needed! Just a faith-filled prayer.

How about one more example before we go? 

Acts 28:7-9  “In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:”

How was it that this man and all of the other people afflicted with sickness were healed? Was it through a milk blood transfusion? Was it through draining the blood out of your body? 

No. They were healed because of prayer and faith. Never forget that.

In Christ,

Andrew

Good morning and welcome in everyone. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Galatians.

Galatians 6:1-2  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

To understand this passage we must first understand what it means to “restore“.

In the dictionary, the word restore is defined as; returning someone to a former condition or place. For example, a student at school might get kicked out of a classroom because of bad behavior, but then later on that afternoon, sincerely regret their inappropriate actions and apologize to the teacher.  Instead of enforcing the penalty for the wrong that they committed, the teacher completely forgives and restores them, receiving them back into the school room once again. 

Restoration also means being reinstated to a previous position, This is exactly what happened In the parable of the prodigal son.  The son was overtaken by the fault that he had committed, and eventually repented and confessed it to his dad. Instead of punishing the son by lowering him to the level of a servant, he meekly restored him to sonship.  He completely reinstated him to the place where he originally was, the day he had left. He forgave him right on the spot without retaining any bitterness or resentment towards him in his heart.  This is what it means to bear another man’s burdens.  The dad was fulfilling the law of Christ, by forgiving and reconciling the son unto himself.

Likewise, in order for us to fulfill the law of Christ, it means that if someone sins against you, and they humbly confess and apologize for their faults, you must completely forgive them from your heart.  This is so they can be restored to the former relationship that they had with you in the past. If you cannot forgive in this manner, you will not be forgiven by God, which will result in damnation of the soul.

Now, let’s talk for a moment about what it means to be “overtaken in a fault”. 

When somebody is overtaken in a fault, they are consumed with grief because of something wrong that they did.  They feel godly sorrow inwardly and possess a contrite and penitent heart.

2 Corinthians 7:9-11  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort,…..

An example of being overtaken in a fault is found at Luke 18:10. The humble publican was grief stricken and brokenhearted because of his own sins. He was beating upon his own chest because he was in such pain for the wrongs that he had committed.  When he approached God in such a manner, he found a place of forgiveness and restoration with Him, and went down to his house justified.  When we come to God, confessing our faults with a broken and contrite heart, He can restore us unto Himself through His grace and mercy.  

The Apostle Peter is another example of someone who was overtaken in a fault.  When he denied Christ three times, he was filled with bitter self-reproach and heartfelt grief for the wrong that he had done. He felt so bad about it that he tearfully wept.  Even though he had done what was wrong, Jesus restored him to Apostleship once again.  That is the incredible power of God’s grace, which can be received when He sees you overtaken in a fault.  

Psalms 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

God wants to forgive us, but some people can’t attain it because they do not possess a broken heart.  The Apostle James warns the church about this very thing.

James 4:8-10  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

An impenitent person is filled up with pride instead of humility.  They don’t possess genuine sorrow that would cause them to apologize or to express regret.  The reason why is because their conscience is burned and void of feelings.

1 Timothy 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

David was a man who loved and served the Lord with great fervor and zeal.  By the power of the Lord, he defeated the giant enemy Goliath, and was eventually crowned the king of Israel.  But even though David was a great man of God, he later got involved with sin in his life that he greatly regretted. Like Peter and the humble publican, he was overtaken in grief for his fault and mourned before God for what he had done wrong. He was filled with godly sorrow.

Psalms 51:1-13  Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.  Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

One last example is found in 1 Corinthians 5 when the Apostle Paul had the church remove a fornicator from among them.  Instead of feeling sorry about what was going on amongst them, they were puffed up with pride.  Apparently the person felt deep regret later for what they had done, being filled with a contrite and penitent heart.  They too, were overtaken with grief for their fault, and found grace in the eyes of the congregation.

2 Corinthians 2:6-7  Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.  So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

We are supposed to go and sin no more, but if you sin, you must repent quickly because it shows that you genuinely care about the person that you have wronged.  The more time that passes the more hard and bitter the heart becomes.  If you can’t apologize, something is definitely wrong.  Some people actually believe that they only have to confess to God rather than a brother who is upset with them. To hold that belief is heresy because it goes in complete contravention to the teachings of Christ.  Those who truly believe that are not going to get to heaven either. 

If someone is overtaken by a fault, it means that they feel bad enough about what they have done, to show sincere regret and make the effort to apologize and reconcile with others. When they manifest these feelings, restoration and forgiveness can happen, because as we learn from the  lives of the Apostle Peter, King David, and the Prodigal Son, each of us might make a mistake.  What needs to be done is to meekly restore those who repent, understanding the frailty of our human nature, and that all of us sinners who might occasionally do what is wrong.  Each of us need a portion of God’s grace so that we can eventually be perfected, overcome all temptations, and get back up, and do….

…….The Right Thing

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 diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️

tlkjbc.com

Good morning and welcome in. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.

There is a tree that can be found throughout Southeast Asia, and central and South America. It is the Chinese bamboo, which is a very important natural resource for many people.  It has many uses, including furniture, building material, biofuel and even charcoal.  They claim that bamboo produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. In Northern Minnesota when loggers clear a field of mature timber, many trees will naturally grow back quickly the next year, but this is not the case with the Chinese bamboo.  It has been said that they won’t break through the ground for the first 4 years.  Each day, It needs to be diligently watered and fertilized where it was planted.  But finally in the fifth year, it begins to grow at an incredible rate.  Although it takes a long time to break through the soil, bamboo is known as the fastest growing plant on the Earth, some of them growing more than one meter a day.  They can grow over 90 ft tall in just 5 weeks!

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

It takes diligence and persistence if you are going to attempt to grow a bamboo tree. You cannot quit, or give up. You need to make a daily commitment to keep watering and fertilizing it if you want to eventually see it grow into fruition.  In order to have spiritual fruit, you are going to have to keep at it until that seed of truth germinates inside someone’s heart.

2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Many of us have had pets at one time or another, but in order for them to grow they must be fed and watered.  It’s the same with an infant.  You need to provide them with daily milk.  To grow physically we each need food, but to grow Spiritually, we need spiritual food. We need the daily bread of God’s Holy Word, and someone needs to take the responsibility to feed the church.

1 Peter 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

To eventually bear fruit, we must persevere and continue to preach daily, waiting patiently for someone to hear God’s Word, believe it, and be converted through it.  If you want to lead people to salvation, like caring for a bamboo seed, you need to keep watering it by sowing God’s Word into their hearts.  The Lord Jesus and His disciples preached the Word daily.

Matthew 26:55 …. I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

Luke 19:47  And he taught daily in the temple…..

Acts 2:46

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple…..

Acts 5:42  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day;…….

We are not responsible for the growth, we are responsible to plant and to water, and you will be rewarded according to your own labor. 

1 Corinthians 3:6-8  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

For example, If you work at a greenhouse, someone might plant the seeds, while another employee comes behind them and takes care of watering the plants.  This is what Apollos did. This is what Timothy did. They faithfully watered God’s flock every day, so that the sheep could grow into spiritual maturity. But many times when a person begins preaching, they can easily become frustrated and discouraged because they don’t see immediate results. They can also become disheartened because of someone’s negative response to the truth.  But you need to understand that certain people, even some from within the church, will deny and reject the teachings of Christ.  When this happens, we are not supposed to carry their pessimistic attitude in our spirit.  We are supposed to shake the dust off, and continue to preach, using God’s Word to correct, rebuke, and to discipline as needed.  When we are harassed, persecuted or evil spoken of, which most certainly will happen, we must learn to accept hardness as a good soldier of Christ and keep at it, because your labor is not purposeless.  Somewhere out there is another soul who will believe and become converted to the truth.  

1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Granted, not every seed that a preacher plants will find its way into the soil of a good and obedient heart, but it is our responsibility to continue to feed the sheep.   It is only by continuing to preach the truth, that we can eventually bear fruit through the lives of others that you have discipled.  One year, Andrew wanted to plant some tomato plants in our small garden, so we built a greenhouse.  Instead of planting a few seeds, I planted thousands. The entire family asked me why I planted so many, but I told them that not all of the seeds would eventually go on to produce fruit.  They must be planted in the right kind of soil, and be watered regularly to go on unto maturity.

Luke 8:11-15  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Feeding the Church of God is a great responsibility. 

Acts 20:28   Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Sometimes, like a bamboo tree, you won’t see the fruit of your labor for many years.  Sometimes I don’t think that we will see our fruit in our own lifetime.  Look at what the disciples started 2,000 years ago, and look at the fruit that they have today.  It is because they dedicated their lives to preaching the truth, and others eventually converted, picked up the torch and continued what they were doing.

So if you want fruit someday you need to be diligent.  You must persevere and keep planting those seeds of faith into people’s hearts.  If it hits the fertile soil of a good and obedient heart, it can eventually grow into something huge,  just like….

…. The Bamboo Tree

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 diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.

tlkjbc.com♥️

https://tlkjbc.com/written-sermons/
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2055335/episodes
https://www.facebook.com/share/14RHGVBBHbG/

Note: Any copies may be printed and freely distributed among those who have no internet service. There is no AI creative involvement in my writings, and must be left intact because they are very personal to me. These are not to be sold, and are made public only for the free benefit of Spiritual knowledge to those who are genuinely seeking the will of God.

In a team based sport or activity, the ability to work together is a key to success. Just look and see how a team like an Olympic rowing team work together. Speed is of the utmost importance, and in order to obtain the fastest speed possible each and every one of the rowers needs to be in complete sync with their teammates. Just like marching to the beat of a drum, each stroke of the oar needs to be exactly the same as the rest of the others.

Now, if you think of the Christian faith as a rowing team, as Christians we need to be all of the same spirit, striving together to keep united in the Spirit of the Lord, all together, working together as one.

Ephesians 4:1-6  “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

The Christian faith is a giant spiritual family. We are all brothers and sisters when we become a part of the family of God, and just like a family should, we need to be filled with love and unity with each other. As Paul had written, there is one Lord, Jesus. Our faith in Him is one faith, not multiple; there are not different teachings found in the Bible that will teach one thing and then teach something completely different, as the Bible will not contradict itself. There is one baptism, which is through Christ. 

1 Corinthians 1:10-13  “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?”

Whether it had been Paul, Apollos, or Peter, they all were teaching the same things. They were all teaching the Word of God, and if you get a look at some of the scriptures you will find that some of both Peter and Paul’s writings were very similar in writing, and this is because they were both of the same Spirit of God. They both believed the same things, they both taught the same things. Brothers in the Spirit, and both filled up with great love for each other. 

There should be no division in the church if everyone is of the same Spirit. Jesus cannot be divided against Himself! The teachings of the Bible are not “at odds” with each other, and we in the church need to all believe in the same teachings that were first taught to us from the Bible

Have you ever noticed how perfectly a group of starlings fly together? A starling is a small bird, but they will often travel in huge groups of 500+, known as a murmuration. Like a cartoon drawing of a pile of bees, these birds will soar through the air. Left, right, up, down- these birds all stick together almost as if they were controlled by one single mind. This is how the church should be. Not separate little groups here and there, doing their own things, believing different beliefs. The things that are taught in the Bible are there for everyone to read and understand. Let us be of that one mind, and one Spirit. Let us put away division in the church, and be united under the true faith of God.

In Christ

Andrew

Good morning 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 tell you a little story.

A few years ago, I was told by a neighbor that one of their friends was walking through the woods, and came upon a couple of black bear cubs.  Obviously if you meet baby cubs, the mother is close by.  In a matter of moments the mother charged out of the woods at him, so as fast as he could, he scampered up a tree to hide in the upper branches in order to escape her clutches. She stood at the base of the tree snorting and chopping her teeth as a warning, but eventually walked away.  He had managed to avoid any altercations that day.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

You might be able to outrun a bear in the woods, but you will never be able to outrun God.  Whether people want to see him or not, everyone will eventually meet Him come judgment Day, because on that day, there will be nowhere to hide, and nowhere to run.

2 Corinthians 5:10-11  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Wherever the Apostle went, he was warning people to turn away from their sins because he knew that every soul would be judged according to their works.  

Revelation 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:13 – And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

In order to eventually obtain eternal life, we must be converted to biblical truth.  We must turn away from sinful living, and with obedient hearts, follow the way of righteousness that is found through faith  in Christ Jesus.  Heaven is a prepared place for those who have prepared themselves while here upon this Earth.  We must be overcomers of the sinful nature if we expect to remain in the book of Life.

Revelation 3:5 – He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Some people who profess to be Christian will not endure the Christian Life.  They won’t completely submit to the will of God found in the teachings of scripture. Because they received the precious gift of God’s grace and vain, they will eventually be blotted out of the book of the living.

Psalms 69:28 – Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Those who have chosen to serve Christ and undergone the transformation from sinners into saints, will be given the honour of judging the world later.  The saints will be judges and justices in the court of the most high.  

Psalms 149:5-9  Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.  Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;  To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;  To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;  To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

The saints will be tapped by the Lord Jesus Christ to judge the entire world.

1 Corinthians 6:1-3  Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Jude 1:14-15 – And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

The Apostle gravely warned the church that those who were contentious and resisted abiding in scriptural truth, would suffer the punishment for their evil deeds.

Romans 2:5-10 – But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

God doesn’t treat anybody special or favor one over the other.  He is not a respecter of persons and will reward according to ones works.  God is not mocked, and you will certainly reap what you sow.

Galatians 6:7-8  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Physical death cannot prevent somebody from attending judgment Day, because everyone who has ever lived will be resurrected from the dead. Some will wish that they could die, but will not be able to. Some will attain paradise, while others will be damned.  

John 5:28-29 – Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

From the highest places of authority in society, to the lowest, every knee shall bow before Christ Jesus.

Romans 14:11-12  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Revelation 20:11 – And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

At judgment Day, each soul, whether willing or not, will be summoned to appear in God’s courtroom.  There will be no escape and no possibility of evading it.  When that day cometh, there will be nowhere to hide, and certainly…

……Nowhere to Run

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 diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️

tlkjbc.com

In order for a student to get into a high-level college such as Yale, they must have achieved very good scores on their SAT or ACT test, have a nearly perfect GPA score from a curriculum of difficult courses, and participate in special activities that show your potential for leadership positions. If these requirements have been met then they may be selected to join the university. It truly is a school that can be only gotten into by one’s merits and achievements.

This is completely opposite, however, than the way that a person can receive salvation and gain access to the Kingdom of God. While an Earthly institution may make requirements that a person needs to meet to merit something, salvation and eternal life are not things which can be earned. They are gifts from God to those who have faith in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-10  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

We can do nothing on our own. Our gifts, our abilities have been given to us by God. All that we are, and any gifts that we possess are not things that come from our own goodness or talent. I always like it when I watch a sporting event and at the end of the game of one of the star players of the game is being interviewed and they start off with thanking the Lord for giving them the ability to perform at such a high level, because they know that without Him they are nothing. They recognize that their “greatness” doesn’t come from themselves, but it is a gift from God.

We are saved by grace, through faith. We aren’t saved by an accomplishment that we can achieve. We cannot do something to merit salvation. We are not saved because we are “good enough.” The only reason that we are saved from the destruction and punishment for our sins is because of His grace and when we have faith in Him.

Without Jesus, we are nothing. The only reason that anyone can be in Heaven is because of the things that Jesus has done. 

Romans 3:23-27  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”

This is something that the world does. “I’m great because I did this. I did that. I am who I am today because I earned my way to the top.” Really, this is why the Law of the Old Testament was there in the first place, first to show that no one could actually be “good enough” to merit salvation, and second, after someone realized that they were not “good enough” to show that the only way to receive eternal life is to have faith in Jesus Christ and His grace.

We are saved though grace, through faith. Not because of what we can do, but because of what Jesus did.

In Christ,

Andrew