Mark 13:29 “So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.”

It is a beautiful clear day outside, and you and your family are out in the backyard having a weekend barbecue with lots of burgers, chips, pop, and other goodies. You bring out the croquet set, maybe a bean bag toss, a few lawn chairs, and procede to have a wonderful couple of hours relaxing in the comfort of your family. But at some point in your afternoon, you notice a rather dark-looking cloud further on the horizon, but you continue to go on with the activities. Another hour later you look up again and realize that the cloud is moving a lot faster than you expected, and is looming overhead. What do you do? 

In most circumstances, a dark cloud in the sky is usually a sign that a rainstorm is imminent, and most times people will start to get everything packed up and put away before the storm finally arrives. Away will the croquet set go, back into the shed. The food will disappear, either into the belly or into a storage bag or container. And once everything has been put away, everyone will then go into the house and weather the storm in comfort and safety. 

You can see the signs of the changing weather approaching, and your intuition tells you to prepare beforehand, so that you do not get soaked by the rain. Yet this type of preparation is not present in the same manner for some people in their spiritual life. Not everyone “sees the stormcloud” on the horizon and begins to make the necessary preparations needed to ensure that when it does finally come they are ready to meet the Lord.

But thankfully the Lord Jesus has left us all of the signs that we need to know when His arrival is getting close. 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-10  “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”

It is certainly correct that we cannot know the actual day that the Lord will return to gather up His flock to be with Him, but we can know when that day is getting close. 

Luke 21:7-11, 20, 25-28  “And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.”

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

So here we read that there will be many people who will claim to be Jesus, which, with a quick Internet search you will find that this has already happened, and continues to happen. 

It seems that there never is a quiet time throughout the world, as there is always some kind of a war or commotion somewhere in the world, and I don’t believe we have even come close to seeing the worst of it yet. If nation rises against nation, it certainly seems like a world-wide kind of a war, which indeed has already happened, but could certainly happen again.

Earthquakes, famines, pestilence? These things seem to be a consistent feature as each year seems to bring something new in these categories. But they have all been foretold that they would happen, so we just need to keep vigilant, watch, and pray.

Mark 13:32-37  “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”

Yes, indeed. Watch.

In Christ

Andrew

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.

When my son Ephraim was a very young age, our entire family would sit down in the living room together.  We would visit with each other, and talk about the day’s events before we began to eat our supper. Somewhere during that time, I would ask Ephraim to come over and sit down at my feet, which he would quickly do.

With all of the other siblings watching,  I would tell him to stand up, and he quickly stood up.  I’d wait momentarily and then I would tell him to sit down, and he would sit back down on the floor.  After doing this a few times, I would explain to the rest of the children that this is what is called obedience.  The dad is the authority in the Christian home, and it pleases God greatly when you obey authority. 

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

The final goal for a Christian is to walk before God with a perfect heart.  The only way this will result is through complete obedience and submission to the will of God. Only through obedience through scriptural truth, can we become converted and transformed into new creatures and servants of Christ.  Many people will quickly profess that they believe in Jesus, but if you truly believe in Him, you will do His will and abide in His Word.  Christians are called to go on unto perfection, and to attain that, truly is the end game.

Romans 6:16-18  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?  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Our family has an inside joke that we laugh about from time to time. Sometimes I like to save money on buying cheese when I make homemade pizza for the family.  Instead of cheese, I’ll put on some extra sauce, meat or other toppings. But when it’s finally ready to eat, everyone looks at the food and says the same thing. Where’s the cheese?  Andrew always tells me that if there’s no cheese on pizza, then you really can’t call it pizza.  It’s got to have cheese, he tells me. That makes me think.  Can you call something a hamburger if there’s no hamburger in it?  Can you call it a chocolate chip cookie if there are no chocolate chips in it?  Likewise, how can somebody profess to be a Christian if their life is void of obedience to the will of God?  All they are doing is deceiving themselves.  Without a fervent desire to obey God, the Christian Life falls short of success.  People need to be honest with themselves. In order for any of us to become righteous, we need to turn from our sins and obey God’s will. To obey means to comply with the commands, direction or request of an authority figure. It also means to submit, surrender, yield, abide and adhere to the will of someone who has power over you.  Simply put, it means to do what you are told.

The Christian life is about hearing God’s word and acting upon it. It’s changing our will to the will of God and doing what He desires us to do. Out of love for him we will completely surrender to His authority, just as a wife is to submit to her husband. Without this little word “obey”, people can never really convert and transform into what God wants them to become.  Numerous people reject certain passages of scriptures because they don’t want to let go of the world in certain aspects of their life.  They want to be in heaven but they don’t want to do what’s required of them to obtain heaven.  They want paradise, but they won’t let go of the world and its ways.  They want to be a saint, but still lead the life of a sinner.

James 1:21-22  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

It is only through obedience to the will of God that we can truly convert and become what God wants us to be, and being converted by the truth is required to inherit eternal life.  Each of us need to become obedient children.

Matthew 18:3  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.

Disobedience does not please God, and those who are not going to obey the truth of his Word will most certainly be punished.

Romans 2:8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

If one truly believes in Jesus, obedience to His will is going to be the result.  

Romans 10:16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

Eternal salvation is available to each of us but will be granted to those who obey His will.

Hebrews 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

God will take vengeance on those who refuse to obey the gospel of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

The Philippian church was very obedient.  Paul didn’t have to stand over them at every moment because they believed in God with their heart, and were straightened in their own bowels.

Philippians 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Jesus cares about this world so much, that He laid down His own life at the cross for our sins. Grace is available, but what God requires is repentance, contrition, and godly sorrow for the misdeeds that we have all committed.  God requires us to turn from our sins and depart from iniquity.  Obedience to Christ and His teachings are the proof of our love towards Him. Those who lovingly submit to His will from their hearts, will gain entrance into eternity.

2 Peter 1:10-11  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Obedience to God is the proof of our love.

John 14:21, 23-24  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

Each of us need to get to the point in our life when we go and sin no more, when we make no more mistakes, and we no longer have to repent from dead works. For a Christian, perfect obedience to the will of God truly is…..

……The EndGame

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

Some of the most routine jobs in the world, which, while repetitive, are some of the most important. If you look at something such as farming, that is a job that requires a great deal of dedication to stick with, as you will be doing the same things over and over and over again. When you take a look at the farms with thousands upon thousands of acres of fields of wheat or corn, it takes quite a bit of time sitting in the tractor seat doing the same things repeatedly; driving up and down the fields plowing, planting, fertilizing, and harvesting every year. But someone has to do it, otherwise we wouldn’t have the fresh produce in the store. We wouldn’t have the bags of flour, or the baskets of fruits and berries. If all of the farmers of the world decided that they were tired of farming, this world would become a very hungry place.

If there was no one to continue preaching the Word of God to people, how would anyone hear about Jesus? If there was no one to consistently help others to understand the teachings in the Bible, how would the church of God grow and mature in their faith? What if someone like the Apostle Peter decided that he was “tired” of telling people about Christ; how would he have reached all of the people that he has over the past 2000 years?

Galatians 6:7-10  “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.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Being a Christian really is about counting the cost and knowing what it is that is your purpose for the Lord. Just as a farmer understands all of the time and work that it will take to raise their crops from a seed all the way to the store, a Christian needs to understand that their goal or objective is not a short tenured “summer job” that can be abandoned after a few months. It is a day by day way of life that needs to become our daily routine that we do not deviate from.

Routine is a good thing and it is especially important to be routine with our faith in the Lord, and in our good works towards others. As not everyone in the church may have the same the same gifts or abilities, the life of each believer may differ slightly with the place that Jesus has for them; someone may be a man and they have the gift of evangelism or prophecy, and they should continue to use those gifts regularly. A woman, while not having the same place in the church as a man, can still use her abilities that she has been assigned by the Lord, such as assisting others by taking care of the men or children. But whatever it is that a person’s job is, they need to never allow themselves to become weary in doing good.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Whether it be good or bad, a person will reap what they have sown. A farmer will reap the reward of their nature crops, as long as they continue on taking care of it from start to finish. A believer in Christ will receive the rewards for their faithful works to Him as well, if they continue to the end, and never become weary in their faith.

So do not worry! The Lord sees your faith and the works that you do for Him. He is always watching and will definitely reward you. You just need to keep at it!

In Christ

Andrew

Good morning and welcome in everyone.  Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from 2 Corinthians, but first of all…..

I’ve noticed a growing trend that is going on in society these latter days.  People are showing up to a church gathering for all of the wrong reasons. Instead of being drawn to the church because of a God-seeking heart, and joining with others who are like-minded, they are drawn by what they see.

2 Corinthians 5:7  For we walk by faith, not by sight

For example, some people have turned a church gathering into a worldly performance, adding fog machines, disco lights and thousands of dollars of other lighting and visual effects.  They even have women up on stage doing dance routines, like something you would see downtown in a bar in some major city.  Now, let me ask you a question.  Why would anybody in their right mind, who decided to convert to the Christian Life, want to enter a church somewhere where it looks exactly like the world from which they stepped away from?  You know who’s going to show up?  The world.  If there was any kind of conviction in their hearts, if there was anything spiritual going on, they would know that these behaviors have no place in the Christian Life, because they are worldly and motivated by the senses.   Many of these carnal leaders and false prophets play right into the hands of the public, by giving them exactly what they want, more of the world.  Many people show up because they want to be dazzled by what they see, like someone who is fascinated by the neon lights in a gambling casino. They want to be stimulated by what they see, rather than being stimulated by hearing the solemn preaching of God’s Holy Word.  Like a worldly rock concert, people show up because they want to watch a performance.  They want to be shocked and awed, rather than humbly seeking God with a contrite and penitent heart. They create an amusement park atmosphere, rather than a somber gathering of reflection, worship and prayer.  

If it looks like the world, it is the world. If it acts like the world, it is the world.  If it resembles the world, then it is the world. The reason why many people are drawn to a church building  somewhere, is not because they want to hear God’s Word taught and expounded upon.  It’s not to listen, learn and to grow in obedience to the will of God. It is because they are amazed by what they see, from chandeliers, to architecture, to paintings, to a performance, to landscaping or to the sheer size of the building and the crowd.  A church service is supposed to be a somber event where the penitent come to lay their hearts bare before God. It is a place of spiritual learning from men of God, conducted in a grave and orderly fashion, yet there are those who have turned it into a party atmosphere, like something you would see at a sporting event. Some people feel that they are going to win people to the faith by doing these kinds of things, but we don’t reach the world by becoming like the world, we reach the world by converting them to the truth of scripture.  We don’t win the world by conforming to the world, but guiding the world on the path of transformation and repentance. We don’t win the world through laser lights and spotlights, but by exposing them to the light of God’s Word.

Nowadays certain groups will try anything just to get people in the seats, but this was certainly not the way of the early Christian Church.  People showed up because they wanted to hear the Word of God. Instead of conforming to the truth, people want to attend a worldly looking church, claiming that certain gatherings are old fashioned or too conservative.  They want to attend a progressive church, one that reflects the modern age of the world that we live in. They want to go somewhere that accepts worldly philosophies such as women teaching and preaching God’s Word.  They want to go somewhere that is tolerant of their sins.  If they can locate a group with those beliefs, then in their own mind they don’t have to repent. The church is not a chameleon because it is unchangeable.  It is as unchangeable as God’s Holy Word.  The church is not a building, it is a group of people who are seeking God with a diligent heart.  Instead of meeting in people’s homes like the early church, nowadays they pour huge amounts of donated money into large and ornate structures that glorify man’s handiwork rather than God, but in the end, God will destroy them all. The Apostles taught that the Earth and everything in it will be burned up.

2 Peter 3:10-14  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

What is the point of putting money into a building?   Even the Lord Jesus didn’t have His disciples construct a building somewhere.  What’s the point, when everything is going to be destroyed anyway? That includes every church building that has ever been built. Some of them have turned the sheep into merchandise because of their own covetous hearts. We are supposed to help others with the things that we have been given.  When we distribute to the poor and needy, our gifts are credited to our account in heaven. Any monies that were received were not used to pay for a new parking lot, they were given to the poor. It really makes me wonder if people would work that hard getting people seated in the pews, knowing that all the donations that came in were going to be given to the poor anyway.  

I was talking to somebody a few years ago who said that they had gone to a church somewhere and the service was absolutely incredible.  I asked them what was so incredible about it.  They said that the performance was absolutely amazing, like a concert atmosphere. They described the comfortable seats and the visually stimulating design of the building.  Not once did they mention anything about hearing God’s Word preached and growing stronger in their faith. Never once did they mention what they had heard or learned. What is supposed to draw a Christian to worship, is the preaching of God’s Word, and joining with others who call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart, oblivious of what environment you may be in.

2 Corinthians 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Jesus preached right out in the open, in fields and in a boat.  They even had communion in the upper room of someone’s home. God doesn’t require a building, because He dwells in the temple of all Holy Spirit filled believers.  The Christian Life is spiritual, not carnal.  It is about seeing with your heart, rather than with your eyes.  Judge not by appearance, because the Christian life is not about what you can see.  It is entirely about walking by faith….

……Not by sight

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

“My grace is sufficient for thee…”

When you look at a globe, you will notice that a very large portion of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, over 70%, in fact. However, of that 70%, how much of that water do you think that humans can actually use? Would you be shocked to learn that humans can only use about 0.007% of all of the water on Earth? Well, the reason behind this fact is because only about 2.5% of Earth’s water is fresh, and out of that 2.5% only 1% of it is accessable as the rest of it is in the form of glaciers and snow. 

We are basically a water planet, yet that tiny amount of usable water is more than enough to take care of the needs of everyone on Earth, and the grace of God is very much similar, in the fact that He is filled with so much grace, yet we only need just a little bit of it, because the grace and mercy that we need from Him is like a drop of water from the ocean, He has so much.

The Apostle Paul certainly was extremely thankful to the Lord for the grace that he received. Even though he had done some terrible things in his life in the past he was still given all of the grace that he needed to turn his life around and start living for Christ.

1 Timothy 1:12-14  “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

“A chief of sinners” Paul later called himself, but yet that chief of sinners was a recipient of the full power of the grace of God, and was transformed into one of the Lord’s greatest servants. It is this example that shows that no matter where you have come from in your past, there will always be enough grace for you if you make that decision to come forward for that grace from God.

Hebrews 4:16  “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

It is an inevitable fact that we all will need the grace and forgiveness of God throughout our lives, and some may need to receive it more frequently than others. Whether one sin, ten, or a thousand, there will always be enough of God’s grace to take care of everyone.  However, as many people will know, if you have an almost unlimited supply of something some people may tend to misuse or abuse the use of it, but this is something that should never happen if someone receives God’s grace. Just as you should not carelessly misuse a gift that you receive from a friend, the gift of grace from God should never be misused or taken for granted. It is the greatest gift that you can receive, and it needs to be treated as such. 

The grace of God is indeed like the endless waters on this Earth, with so much of it there, yet the amount that you will ever need is a mere vapour in the wind. You too can experience the abundance of grace that Paul received, if you simply come forward for it, because His grace is sufficient for you!

In Christ,

Andrew

I used to have a shape ball as a child, which basically was a plastic sphere with the shapes of triangles, squares, rectangles, stars, etc, and the objective or purpose of this toy was to stick the dozen or so plastic shapes that came with the ball and insert them into the correct shape in the ball itself. So if you picked up the square block, you needed to find the square on the ball, and the same with a circle, you needed to find the circle on the ball and match the two together. Eventually when you were all done the ball would be completely filled with shapes and you could start over again. 

But one thing about that ball was that you couldn’t cheat. You couldn’t put the triangle into the circle slot, or the square into the star slot, as the shapes were just the right size so that you couldn’t insert them into any slot that you wanted. You had to put them through the one, single slot that was meant for that specific shape.

And this is kind of like how we need to be to get to Heaven. As we will read, Jesus told His disciples that He would be leaving them to go back to be with His Father, and they they could come to be with the Father in Heaven as well, but they needed to go through Jesus to get there.

John 14:1-7  “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”

Jesus teaches us that He is preparing a place for us up in Heaven, mansions, no less, and that when He one day returns to receive us unto Himself that we can go back to be with Him and the Father. But to be among those who are admitted into the gates of Heaven we need to go through Jesus, and it is only through Jesus that we can get there. 

There is no other way. There are no other alternatives or bypass routes through which a person can acquire eternal life. Although there will be many people who will try to get to Heaven through other means, they will all fail. It just will not work, like trying to put a square into a circle on that ball, it is just impossible.

Acts 4:10-12  “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Only one way, one method, one solution to the question “How can I go to be with the Father in Heaven someday?” The answer is not multiple choice. It is not a “choose your own adventure” book where there are multiple choices and endings. The way, and only way, is through the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ. Just like that toy shape ball.

In Christ,

Andrew

When a king in medieval times sent a message they would often seal a letter with wax, and before the wax was hardened the king would press some kind of a marker into the wax which would show that the letter was indeed from the king. This marker would have a special engraving used only by the king, letting all who saw it know that whatever was in that letter was a direct command of the king.

Sometimes a man would be picked by a king to administer his laws, and would be given a special ring for them to wear that showed that position. As a minster of the law, it was their duty to carry out the royal decrees from the king, and this really was what Paul was for the Lord. The Apostle Paul had been commanded by the Lord to preach the gospel, which he faithfully did. 

Galatians 1:6-12  “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after saw man.

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

In this chapter of Galatians it appears that Paul was speaking to some people who had begun to believe in things that were not correct according to the gospel of Christ. There was someone who had “perverted” their belief of the word of God so that they believed a lie. When something is perverted, it has been “deviated from what is normally considered correct.” It also means to be altered or distorted.

Paul was a man who had been directly appointed by the Lord, and he was very concerned for the faith of those who he had helped to grow. He knew the word of the Lord and he said that if anyone taught things that were contrary to what he had taught them to let them be “accursed,” which means to be damned or doomed to destruction, because if that was what they were going to be teaching as the “gospel” then they would only be leading others away from the truth that is found in the Scriptures. 

Why would someone preach things that are different from the Bible? Maybe to be “more inclusive” by trying to broaden the requirements that a Christian needs to live by? We say this a lot, but the walk of a Christian is on a very narrow pathway indeed, and it leads to eternal life. But the way of the world and the way that the world wants to live is far, far wider. It is more inclusive, saying that you can live whatever way that you like. And it is this that some people may try to combine the teachings of Christ with the ways of the world, making that narrow path a bit wider. 

Need some examples of this happening? Take a look at a very large percentage of processing Christian denominations today and you will find that women are either preaching or speaking in the church during the service. You may say, Why is this wrong? Because it is taught in the Bible that it is wrong. This is a matter that many people can get upset at, but this is because they have been taught a lie for many years and they have been lead away from believing the truth that a man picked by Christ Himself taught. They feel like women are being discriminated against when they are told that women need to be kept quiet during the church service, but the absolute truth is that it is a command of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 14:34  “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.”

There is no other explanation that can be applied to this verse. “Let your women keep silence in the churches.” Period, end of discussion.

How about matters of forgiveness? What does the Bible say about that? 

Mark 11:25-26  “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

First off, why would someone need to be forgiven? Because they did something wrong, and caused an offense, right? They sinned in some manner towards another person. This causes some kind of a “bad feeling” that is carried by the offended individual, and it will often result in that individual not wanting to be with or around the offender, unless they can come to a peaceful resolve. So if the offended individual receives a sincere apology from the offender, everything should be back to as it was before the incident. That is two parts right there. The first is forgiveness, when the sins or offences are forgotten, and the second part is called reconciliation, where the two individuals are now back in a place to where they can peacefully exist with each other in a kind and loving manner, without any feelings of anger or resentment at all. 

This is another of the false teachings that exist in many “Christian” bodies today, that you can “forgive” someone for a sin/wrong, but that you do not need to be reconciled again. To these people who believe this I have this question: If you go before the Lord in your prayers and ask Him to forgive you of your sins (because you need forgiveness of sins to receive everlasting life) but the Lord told you, “Ok, I will forgive you, but I don’t want you to be in Heaven with me,” would that really be forgiveness then? We need forgiveness to be pleasing to the Lord once again, and when we ask for forgiveness, Jesus gives it to us, and we become reconciled back unto Him. We no longer remain in a place of God’s wrath because of our sin, because Jesus forgives us and reconciles us unto Himself.

These teachings and many more can be found in the King James Bible, the entirety of which is inspired by God. The men who God used to write the books of the Bible were men of God and filled the Holy Spirit of God. To obey anything else, to believe anything other than the teachings found in the Bible will only lead a person to a place of eternal damnation. So do not be deceived and led astray into believing a lie that has no basis in the Bible. Believe the truth as it is written in the Word of God.

John 17:17  “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

In Christ,

Andrew

How many stars are there in the universe? What is the temperature going to be in London, England 34 years from now? How many grains of sand could you pick up in your lifetime if you had to pick up only one at a time?

And a final question: What are you going to do tomorrow, or next weekend, or next year?

All of these questions are questions to which we do not have an answer to. We may attempt to suppose, or try to equate in our minds the answer, but we really do not know. We do not know because our minds are “finite,” meaning they have an end, or limit. They are constrained by bounds set by God, so that we do not know all things, including the natural length of our own lives. Only God knows.

James 4:13-15  “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

Remember back in elementary school when the teacher asked everyone what they wanted to be when they grew up? “I’m gonna be a police officer!” I’m gonna be a doctor!” ” I’m gonna be a veterinarian!” Everyone shouts out their own profession which they say they are going to be, which at that time is their goal to go towards. But no one knows everything that it going to happen in their life, do they? Someone may say that they are going to be an airline pilot, but before they reach adulthood they are involved in some kind of an accident which affects their eyesight, and they no longer have the perfect vision that is required of pilots. We just do not know what is in the future for us. We do not know if we will will make money or not, if we will go places or not. We are not in control of these things.

This is something that is referenced many times throughout the Scriptures.

Acts 18:18-21  “And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.”

Here Paul was leaving the city of Ephesus, but told the people there that he would return back to see them sometime again, if it was the Lord’s will. This is very important. If it is the Lord’s will things will happen, not according to our own will.

Lamentations 3:37  “Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?”

How many times have you watched the evening news when the weather comes on, and announces that there is a 100% chance of heavy rain tomorrow? While it may well be a possibility that it rains the next day, the weatherman is not in control of the atmospheric changes in the weather. Whether or not it actually rains is an event that God makes the decision on. If He wants to to be sunny and 80 degrees then that is what it will be, because it is according to His will.

Proverbs 19:21  “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”

We do not know what will happen tomorrow. We do not know what will happen next week or next year. It is all according to the will of the Lord.

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.

Each day millions of people go off to a Vo-Tech or college to learn some kind of vocation.  They study and gain knowledge in the profession that they wish to pursue.  Eventually, they might pass all their tests with flying colors and graduate, obtaining a framed diploma for their wall. But what really defines a person is what they produce in this life.  The ink that is written on a diploma is simply words, until you put into action the things that you have learned, and the proof is in your deeds.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

We are required in the Christian Life to prove our love towards Christ.  He’s already proved His love towards this world by dying on the cross for our sins.  We need to return that great love to Him by becoming converted and faithfully obedient to His will.  It’s more than just claiming to be a Christian,…it’s living as a Christian, and actions speak louder than words.

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

First of all, the Lord Jesus taught that unless people go through the process of conversion they would perish.  Conversion is not optional, it’s a requirement to obtain eternal life.  Conversion means to change. In order to undergo this process of transformation from a sinner into a saint, we must first renew our mind.  Renew means to make new spiritually, or to rebuild and to repair.  If you have ever put new carpeting in your living room, you first must rip out the old in order to replace it with the new.  

Scripture refers to the carnal mind, and the spiritual mind, which are two greatly different mindsets. The carnal mind seeks after things of the flesh, while the spiritual mind seeks after the things of God.  The carnal mindset is enmity against God and following it will only lead to death, while the renewed spiritual mind will lead to life.  To possess the spiritual mind, is to have the mind of Christ.

Granted all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  Each of us have lived according to, and followed the sinful nature in our past, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. In that state we are the children of wrath even as others in this world.  What we need to do is to transform and become children of God.  Like changing a dead light bulb, we need to change out the one in our head, so that we can be filled with light. In our past we walked according to the vanity of our sinful mind, but now as a Christian we need to change the way that we think.  

Ephesians 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

When we are baptized, we are baptized into death.  This is why we are completely submerged under the water.  It is a water grave, where we put to death the old sinful man and his deeds.  When we come up out of the water, we are supposed to walk according to the new life that we have been granted through Christ.  At that moment, all of our past sins are expunged, as we are given a precious new opportunity to lovingly serve Christ and eventually be able to enter into Paradise.  

Romans 6:4-7  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Rising up out of the waters of baptism, is like a baby taking their very first steps.  When we are born into this world, each of us are underdeveloped and immature.  We need to go through a process of physical growth.  Have you ever noticed that when a child is very young, how much information that they can learn very quickly?  Their mind is like a sponge.  As a babe in Christ, we want to fill our heads and our minds with God’s Word. It is the food that feeds and nourishes our souls so that we can grow into a new Spiritual man in Christ.  

Through the water grave of baptism, the old carnal man is put to death and all things become new to us.  

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

We need to become reborn inside of our hearts.  Circumcision in the flesh does not matter to God.  What matters is becoming circumcised in the heart, and becoming a new creature.  

Romans 2:28-29  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

As a Christian we are circumcised spiritually through faith in Christ.

Colossians 2:11  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

When I think about the Christian Life, I think about an old ripped up pair of jeans that need to be replaced.  You buy a new pair at the store, put them on, and then throw the old pair in the garbage.  You cannot wear your new pair of jeans if you are still wearing your old ones.  You have to first get rid of the old, in order to replace it with the new.  We too must put off the old man and his sinful nature, and put on the new.

Ephesians 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Colossians 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Our minds are renewed through the knowledge of God found in the teachings of scripture.  Like a newborn child we want to soak up Spiritual education.  When we believe in scriptural truth we must become doers of it, resulting in change, conversion, and transformation from sinners into saints.

1 Peter 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Our minds have to change if we are ultimately going to perform the perfect will of God.  Obedience to the will of God is the proof of an active and sincere faith.    Disobedience to His purpose only proves that you are a sinner who is walking in the flesh, and hasn’t renounced the sinful deeds of the carnal nature.  You prove what you are by your actions, because it is actions that speak……

…… Louder Than Words.  

Let’s think about these things for right now.  We can be found on your web browser by Google searching, tlkjbc  where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms, such as Amazon, Spotify or Google podcasts.  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 everybody.  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.

When I was a little child, one of my chores in the kitchen was to make salad dressing for our family.  We had one of those clear bottles with pre-measured lines on the side that showed you how much water and oil to mix with the powdered seasoning.  I would shake the dressing up for a minute and then set it on the kitchen table, but by the time everybody sat down for supper, you could see that the oil had completely separated from the water.

This reminds me of a Christian Life.

Just like oil and water, Christians are called to separate themselves from the world, because they just don’t mix.

2 Corinthians 6:15-18  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Scripture clearly teaches us that in order to be received by God, we need to be able to come out and be separate from the world.  This is serious, because in order to become, and remain a part of God’s family, we must obey this commandment.  To be separate means that you keep apart from others. It also means you are independent and detached.  We are not supposed to join with others who do not share our religious beliefs from scripture.  Poor associations can corrupt good morals.  There are going to be many people who profess Lord Lord, even claiming to be a Christian but are not going to enter into eternal life.  This is because they never faithfully endured what was required of them to obtain salvation.

In the parable of the prodigal son the father symbolically represents God.  The prodigal son represents each of us, sinners who need to come out from the world, and return to the heavenly Father.  We are no longer to live like, or to associate with people who are still walking on the wide road of sin. 

1 Peter 4:3-5  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and  abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:   Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

If you were trying to quit smoking, why would you hang out in a room filled with smokers? If you were attempting to abstain from sin, why would you hang out with people who are still involved with it? Concord is defined as a state of agreement, harmony, unity, alliance and association.  When we become a Christian we are required to turn from darkness to light.  We are not to possess feelings of harmony and fellowship with those who choose to live outside the teachings of Christ.

An infidel is somebody who is unfaithful to the teachings of the Christian faith. This is caused by a state of unbelief.  Unbelief is simply not accepting the truth of scripture. Our source of unity within the church is our faith in Christ and His Holy Word, by which we are sanctified and transformed into new creatures.  We are not supposed to be in agreement with others who reject Christ, but keep separate from them, being loyal to our precious Lord.

Amos 3:3  Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Noah is a prime example of someone who separated from the world.  He didn’t join up with them, but kept to himself, preparing an ark for the salvation of himself, and his family.  

Hebrews 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Again, God commands us to come out and be separate, as commanded in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 18:4-5  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Lots family is another example of coming out and being separate from the world.  Lot’s wife refused to do this, and because of her willful rebellion, perished because of it.

Genesis 19:12-22, 24-26  And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:  For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:  Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:  Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.  But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

This passage is a prime example of coming out from the world and being separate.  Lots in-laws and even his own wife refused to separate, but they were destroyed with the rest.  Separation from the world is required in the Christian Life, if you truly want God as your Father. 

We must come out from the world, Just as Noah did.  We must come out from the world just as Lot did.  We must come out of the world just as Moses did.  Only those who truly love Christ Jesus, will be capable of doing this.  It comes down to a simple choice.  Do you love God enough to separate from the world?  Do you love God enough to keep separate from your own relatives who choose to live in the world? What have you forsaken to show Him that He is your greatest love?

Becoming a follower of Jesus is to be filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit, and the simple truth is, when you try to attempt to combine oil and water…..

….. They Just Don’t Mix

Let’s think about these things for right now.  We can be found on your web browser by Google searching, tlkjbc  where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms, such as Amazon, Spotify or Google podcasts.  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.