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 we first moved out into the big woods,  I needed to get a chainsaw so that I could cut firewood for our home. I had never even used one before, so the process was all brand new to me.  After a few weeks the blade would hit a rock or the dirt, and the razor sharp blade would go completely dull.  Into the house I would go, completely disgusted with myself.  I would dig out some round files, sit at the table, and sharpen it once again, only to do the same thing a week or two later.  This went on for many years.   Even though I got so frustrated with myself, I never gave up or threw in the towel.  To live out here, cutting wood for my family was essential and was going to be a mandatory chore.  Because of this, I needed to learn how to do it properly.  Failure was not an option.  20 years later, instead of sharpening my blade every two weeks, I now only have to do it once a year.  To achieve that goal requires diligence.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

Diligence is characterized by steady, earnestness and energetic effort.  Look at the life of the apostles as examples of faithful diligence.  Diligence means to persist, to keep going, to not give up, to hammer away, to be determined to keep at it, to go the distance, to be zealous, and by staying the course.

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

In order to become pleasing unto our precious God, we must possess sincere faith towards Him. We are saved by the grace of God, but salvation requires walking each day down the avenue of faith.  Without genuine faith, you’ll never be able to do the will of God and please Him perfectly.  God wants to reward us, and there are many ways that he can do it. But first, we must diligently seek Him from our hearts, and it is a private and personal relationship between you and Him alone.

Matthew 6:3-4, 6, 17-18  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

A reward is something given in recognition of one’s service, effort, or achievement.  It’s a recompense, compensation or a reward.  God is a rewarder.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

One of the definitions of a diligent person is he who shows persistent and hard-working effort in undertaking a task or duty.  It’s a combination of hard work and patient endurance.  A diligent person faithfully produces results, accomplishing goals.  We must search out God in this manner. To diligently seek God means to seek Him out in prayer and desire to become obedient to His Word.  God’s Word has the power to save us, but you must believe it enough, to do what it says.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

Without obedience, we can never go through the transformation and conversion that is necessary to obtain paradise.  It requires doing what we are taught from His Word.  If this doesn’t happen, faith is void.  It’s more than just being a hearer, it’s about becoming both a doer, and a person who takes persistent action, concerning their salvation.

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.

To become pleasing unto God, it also requires perseverance.  When you persevere, it means that you keep trying to do something, and won’t give up even though it may be difficult, filled with numerous obstacles and setbacks.  How many times did it take you to learn how to ride a bike?  Did you get up, and get back on it once again, or did you throw it on the ground and give up?  We must continue to strive for the high calling of God, each and every day if we truly want to live the Christian Life.  Perseverance is standing firm in your faith, and pressing forward, seeking God’s presence with a steadfast heart.

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.

Someone who perseveres, is industrious and hard-working, continuing  in a course of action, even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.  No matter what they had to endure, the Apostles pressed forward.

Philippians 3:13-15  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Endurance is a lasting effort at completing something.  Christianity is more than just one step, it is a life of endurance and serving the Lord faithfully.  Our salvation depends on endurance.

Matthew 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

2 Timothy 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

2 Timothy 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Instead of diligently seeking after God, there will be some people who attempt the Christian Life who just are not going to make it.  They will only last a period of time, and then they will fall away from faith towards God, evidenced by their lack of submission to His will and purpose.  Because of their lack of faith, it will become impossible for them to transform and please Him.

Mark 4:17  And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

2 Timothy 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

If you truly possess a diligent heart, you will strive to please God.

Luke 13:24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Jude 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Hebrews 6:11  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

2 Peter 1:10  …..give diligence to make your calling and election sure:…..

Diligence will result in perfection of the soul, sanctification, and becoming blameless in His presence.

2 Peter 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Like learning how to keep my chainsaw blade sharp, I needed to possess diligence and to not give up until I got it right.   The Christian Life is similar.  It’s a matter of pressing on, continuing to faithfully endure, and going on onto perfection by……

…….Staying the Course

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

Luke 13:1-5  “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

What kind of a person are you? Are you someone who readily admits when they make a mistake? Or are you the opposite, the person who “can do no wrong” and believes that they never make a mistake?

How about all of the people who currently reside in a prison or correctional facility, do you feel like you are better than they are? Well you know, the truth is that you really are just the same as them in the sight of God. Whether or not it is considered illegal or a sin in the eyes of the world, sins are all the same according to the Bible. They may differ in their variety, but they are all still sins just the same, and it is this simple fact that makes each person a sinner and no better than someone else.

When a person sins, imagine it is as though they are taking a heavy chain and wrapping it around themselves and locking it into place with a lock, and then jumping off of a boat into the sea. As we all know, you have to get that chain off of yourself so that you are able to swim back up to the surface, and the only way to do that is to unlock the lock.

Pride is the thing that prevents a person from unlocking the lock of sin and swimming back to the surface, and it is pride that will actually blind a person from recognizing that they are just as much of a sinner as everyone else. Meanwhile, the opposite of pride is humility. Humility means to be humble, and that means to not be proud or arrogant, but to be modest and meek.

Probably one of the most used passages that we use to show the difference between pride and humility is the passage in Luke 18, with the parable that Jesus told about two men. One a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luke 18:9-14  “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.’

The ability to confess and admit your sins is a must in the life of a Christian, because it is the simple and obvious truth that we all are sinners. We need to be able to admit that we have made errors and that we have sinned before the sight of God. It is this admission of guilt that is the unlocking of the door to God’s forgiveness.

Psalms 32:5  “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

Proverbs 28:13  “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

1 John 1:8-10  “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

If you want to be saved from the punishment for your sins, then you must do something first. You must recognize that you are a sinner and that you are no different or special from anyone else. God will treat everyone the same way, and reward each according to the choice that they make. There are only two options, eternal life and eternal damnation, and the option that you receive will be determined on whether or not you are filled with pride, or with humility. Have you confessed your sins, and turned away from them? Or have you become blind to your sins, and remain in a state of unforgiveness? We cannot change the fact that we are all sinners, but we can have a choice in what our outcome will be. 

Have you confessed your sins yet?

In Christ,

Andrew

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.

Many years ago, I had thought about moving to some remote area in Alaska, in order to insulate our family from the world and its ways.  I wanted our children to be raised on the quiet and less traveled path. I believed that scripture teaches us to come out and to be separate.  We never did get to Alaska, but ended up in the rural part of Northern Minnesota instead.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

To be isolated is to be alone or apart from others.  When you withdraw, it means to back away from, or to otherwise isolate yourself from interactions with them.  During our Christian walk, there are certain people that we are going to need to keep our distance from.  They love obtaining possession and gain more than loving God.  They actually believe that increasing their wealth, is godliness.  From those who possess this philosophy, you need to be keeping your distance.

1 Timothy 6:5-10  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Some people make the attempt to be rich in this world, but it’s only a temptation and a snare because it takes your eyes off what is really important.  Love for God.  Instead of lovingly chasing after God, people choose to chase after money instead.  Being content is to be in a state of peaceful happiness, and satisfied. It is to be pleased with what one already has,  and not needing any more.  If we are content, we don’t feel the need to go out and continually look for increasing Earthly wealth. Jesus taught that we need to take one day at a time.

Matthew 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

It is not a sin to be poor because it brings blessings from God. 

James 2:5  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Moses could have received riches and wealth, but he turned away from it all in order to be closer to God and serve Him.  The amount of finances that he walked away from, showed how much the Lord Jesus meant to him.

Hebrews 11:24-27  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Covetousness is a strong wish to have something, especially something that belongs to someone else.  It is an eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth or possessions.  Instead of being content with what you already have, you want more.

Luke 12:13-21  And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.  And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

When focused on attaining earthly wealth, your focus is not on God.

Matthew 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The seed of God’s Word that has been planted in your heart, can be completely choked off by the love of money.

Matthew 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Some people really believe that the more they possess, the more joy that they will be filled with. The truth is, it will only bring misery.

James 5:1-6  Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.  Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.  Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

Money had such a hold on one man’s life, that he turned away from following Jesus.

Matthew 19:16-26  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 

Many people have turned modern churches into money making schemes, turning the church people into merchandise.  Remember, if they believe gain is godliness, make sure that you are……

……Keeping Your Distance

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 if you really want to locate us,  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.

Because of my convictions I’ve always wanted to be separate from the world.  For almost an entire year, the only meat that our family ate were home raised rabbits.  My wife became very adept at making rabbit stew, and it was a great meal for all of us because it is very low in calories.  We haven’t had them for a few years, but recently I wanted to get rabbits again.  Because of our neighbor, we were able to get some Flemish giants, which are the ones that I wanted to get for a long time. These rabbits are HUGE, and they completely dwarf our tomcat.  Their paws are bigger than my dog!  Andrew and I converted one of our smaller storage areas into a rabbit room, with a few hutches. Just last month we had eight cute little baby rabbits that were born.  Whenever we use a buck for mating purposes, we call him buckwheat. One night I decided to sleep out in the living room, but I was awoken by some noise back by the rabbit hutches. I turned on some light and found that buckwheat had somehow gotten out of his hutch and had jumped into one of the open bins that I keep one of our does in.  As many of you know, when you put a buck with a doe, things can happen.  When I shined my light upon them, I interrupted them, and they both stood there, stared up at me with their big eyes.

This reminds me of the Christian life.

Unlike openly displayed by animals, fornication is not to be named once among Christians.

Ephesians 5:3  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Fornication is willful sexual activity with someone, outside the bonds of marriage.  Marriage is like the Christian Life. Once you make the decision and pick a spouse, there is no turning back.  To do so, is to sin against your spouse and the Lord Jesus.

As it teaches in Scripture, marriage is a matter of law, legally binding a man and a wife. It doesn’t matter if you are married in the church, by a judge, or a justice of the peace, because each of them are places of authority that have been ordained by God. I understand that certain religious bodies don’t accept marriages unless they happen within their church, but that is because they are heretics and openly reject the authority that God has granted to magistrates and other places of authority in the world.  Even the creator of the entire world, our Lord Jesus, submitted himself to Pilate.  Not all of these places of authority do what is just, but I guarantee you that they will be held accountable to God at the judgment.  All places of authority have been created by the Lord Jesus and for the Lord Jesus. 

Colossians 1:16-18  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:

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

In order to engage in sexual activity it must be conducted within the bonds of marriage.  A man is forbidden from divorcing his wife, and the woman must never depart her husband; that is a command of Christ.  Divorce and remarriage after baptism by submersion, is forbidden in God’s sight, and a perpetual state of sin.

1 Corinthians 7:10  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

God has created marriage to abstain from fornication.  

1 Corinthians 7:2  Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Unlike animals out in the woods, sexuality is meant to be enjoyed between two consenting adults, a male and a female, within the bond of marriage.  Any sexual behavior outside the bonds of marriage is forbidden, which includes a wife divorcing her husband and remarrying again. Our rabbits may commit such deeds, but it is because they are animals. Those who commit such deeds and claim to be Christian, are no better than an animal themself.  Any fornication needs to be absolutely abstained from.  

1 Thessalonians 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

Those who impenitently boast about their lascivious behavior, without any signs of quick remorse, needed to be dealt with swiftly in the church.  

1 Corinthians 5:1-5  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

You must flee fornication, like running away from a nest full of angry hornets.

1 Corinthians 6:18  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

God punishes these sexual sins.

Jude 1:7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

1 Corinthians 10:8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Judgment awaits those who participate in such behavior.

Hebrews 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Fornication is forbidden in the Christian life.  We are humans, and have been endowed with a greater brain than a dog or a cat, I think of that when I remember…..

……. Buckwheats Breakout

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 if you really want to locate us,  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. ❤️

As I woke up this morning I looked out my window at the snow covered trees and the sunlight pouring though them, the warm heat coming from the woodstove, I didn’t feel the need to have anything else. I have my clothes to wear, cold water to drink, food to eat, and in my heart I feel a great sense of contentedness, and this is the main topic point in our verse today. 

1 Timothy 6:6-11  “But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”

The definition of “content” is a very simple one, as it means to feel pleased, or satisfied.  To feel happy. If you have something like a car and it works just fine as it should, it may be a a handful of years old with a bunch of miles behind it, but it still works properly, being content is not feeling the desire to go and get a brand new one just because your neighbor did. They see other people with something and they want to have it too. It is the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality, just never content with the things which you have.

You do not need a lot of possessions to be happy and get by in this life. You don’t need to have millions of dollars in your bank account. Happiness is not something that you can buy, it is something that you can feel, and this is something that I can relate to. As a child, did you ever see a commercial on TV of some sort of toy? Well I got one of those toys one time, but after playing with it for a day I realized that it wasn’t so great as the commercial made it seem. In fact, I have had just as much playing with toys that I have created myself than any that I had gotten as present.

Godliness with contentment is great gain, Paul wrote, and he wrote again in Philippians 4:11-13  “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Wherever he went, whatever he had, the Apostle Paul was content. Whether he was full, whether he was hungry, whether he had things or not, Paul was content. He wasn’t looking at the possessions and things of others and desiring to have them. He was content.

For some people, they can never seem to have enough. They always want more and more, and their hearts become filled with covetousness. They want what they don’t have, and when they get what they think they want, they want something else. That is the trap of covetousness. Enough is never enough. 

We can’t take our things with us when we did. All the money, all the gold, all the houses and cars, it will all remain behind when you die. So, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:1-2

The things of God will last forever, so until that day comes, be content with the things that you have!

In Christ

Andrew

Have you ever heard of the term “life debt?” It is mainly used in a literary sense in books or movies, but the meaning of this phase is “a literary phenomenon in which someone whose life is saved or spared by another becomes indebted to or in some way connected to their savior.”

For example you may have read in a book about a man saving another from death, and the man who was saved was so thankful that he pledged his life to the other man’s service. Whatever needed to be done he would do it, because if he hadn’t been saved he would have died. He was indebted to the other man.

But the Bible is no fictional movie. This is not a made-up story in a book on a shelf. This is real. Jesus died for our sins in order to save us from the punishment of eternal damnation that would awaited us otherwise. 

2 Corinthians 5:14-21  “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

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

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

We really do owe the Lord a life debt, because He died for us so that we could have eternal life and live. We owe our lives and souls to Him, because without what Jesus did for us we would have all certainly perished.

We need to realize that Jesus wasn’t forced to do what He did. No one made Him take the nails on the cross. No one made Him come down from His throne in Heaven and come to live amongst sinners. He did it on His own, because He loves us. Jesus could have left us to drown in the depths of our sins and reap the punishment for them. But He didn’t.

John 3:16-17  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

The love of Jesus is a gift that we did nothing to earn. We have done nothing to merit this love and forgiveness, but He offered it to us anyway, and so the question remains: what are you going to do with it? How can you show your appreciation to Jesus? Will you give the rest of your life to the service of Christ?

Jesus died for you. Will you live for Him?

In Christ,

Andrew

Have you ever said that you were going to do something but never actually followed through and did it? I’m sure we all have done something like this before, but there are certain times or situations where you certainly do not want this to happen because it could result in some serious consequences. Just think of what would happen if you told your neighbor that you would watch over their pet while they were away for an extended period, but you completely forgot to do it. If it was long enough of a time that pet could starve to death, and all because you didn’t do what you said you would do.

Imagine that you hired someone to fix the furnace in your house on a cold winter’s day, and they told you that they would be all done that night. You go off to work and leave them to their job, but when you get home later that evening you discover that they didn’t even do anything at all! You need to have that furnace on because it keeps the pipes from freezing in your house, but it didn’t get done. 

Anyone can say that they are going to do something, but they are only expelling hot air unless they actually do it. You can hear the Word of God preached, you can read it, you can call yourself a Christian and tell everyone else that you are, but unless you have repented from your sins and your life reflects that change, those are just hollow words.

Matthew 21:28-32  “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.”

Jesus had posed this parable to the elders and the chief priests who themselves had the Law and the prophets to read and understand, and they should have known that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the promised Messiah. They had the Lord right there in their midst and could see firsthand the incredible works that He had done, from healing the lame, to giving a blind man his sight, to raising the dead. Everything about Jesus had been prophesied many years earlier, as well as by John the Baptist, but they still wouldn’t believe in Him. He was their Messiah! Yet many of them refused to believe in Him. But do you know who did? The publicans. The harlots. The Gentiles. They were the first son in that parable because they believed.

There have been many instances of people who are born into a religious family, but as they grow up those teachings and values are not manifested in their life. “But I am a Christian!” they may say. “My family has been a member of the church for many generations! I attend services regularly!” Regular attendance to church service is commendable, but being a Christian is far more than that. It is more than just hearing the scriptures preached. It is what you do with what you have heard and read from the Word of God that matters. And this is why the Lord was so greatly angered by the chief priests and the Pharisees. As ministers of the Law, they should have been trying to draw people to Him, as He was their Savior, but instead they tried to do the exact opposite. They weren’t living their lives according to the teachings that they claimed to believe in.

Isaiah 29:13  “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:”

To truly honor the Lord we need to do more than just say that we are a Christian. We need to back up those words with our actions, because it is our actions which show who we really are. So which one are you? Are you like the son who repented and did what he had been asked, or are you someone who only sits in a pew for show?

In Christ,

Andrew

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…

Back in 2001, I was driving with my family through Flagstaff Arizona in my old van.  They were doing a lot of construction in the town, and the main highway had been reduced to one lane of traffic.  I remember it was extremely hot, as traffic was at a standstill.  My window was open trying to catch a cool breeze on that hot summer day, when finally an old car drove up next to me.  The young boy inside smiled at me and told me to read the sign on the back of his car.  When he pulled forward, it said, pilot car, “follow me“

I kept right behind him for the next 10 minutes, going through some of the heaviest construction that I’ve seen in my life.  There were heavy loaders, graders and many dangerous things around each corner. I never would have made it without him, nor would the rest of the cars behind me, who had placed their complete trust in me.  Eventually, he pulled over and waved us on, as I pulled out onto the highway once again.  As I pulled away I looked in my rear view mirror and saw him talking to another driver, pointing him to the sign on the back of his car, and telling him the same thing that he had told me…”follow me.”

This reminds me of the Christian life.

When we follow something, it comes down to obeying instructions.  Like following the driver through the construction site, it simply comes down to doing what you are told.  To follow is to obey, which is a quality that we must possess, if we someday want to enter Paradise.

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Up here in northern Minnesota we have numerous hunting guides.  Their purpose is to show you where the fish are or how to find a trophy black bear.  A guide will show us how to obtain what we desire.  Jesus Spiritually guides us, showing us the way to eternal life, but in order to finally obtain it, we must do what He says.

When we become a Christian, we are called to follow the path of Christ. One of the definitions of the word “follow” means to engage in, as a calling or a way of life.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and the only way to God the Father is through Him.  Millions upon millions of people truly want to obtain eternal life, including some who profess to be Christian,  but the only way there is through the Lord Jesus Christ and following Him with an obedient and faithful heart.  We must be converted to scriptural teachings contained in His Holy Word.  It is only through faithful application of the scriptures that we can eventually become sanctified and transformed into what God wants us to become.

When we choose to follow Jesus, it means to pursue Him with a great desire to please and obey Him in everything.  Another definition for follow, means to accept as your authority and to obey such as carrying out orders or instructions.

In the military, if you follow a general into battle, you need to obey him in everything.  Jesus Christ is the king of kings and the general of generals.  We must submit and obey Him in everything because it is the proof of our love towards the one who laid down his own life on the cross, so that we might be saved..

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.

The only way that we can enter into eternal life is if we truly love Christ.  To truly love Christ is to become obedient to His commands and teachings.  Those who refuse to submit to His will are liars, and all liars will have their place in the lake of fire.

1 John 2:3-5  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

For example, a woman is commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ not to depart her husband.  If she chooses to do so, she is rebelling against Jesus and is void of the truth.  To genuinely follow Jesus means to serve him.  God gives us grace to cleanse our conscience,  but it is given so that we can turn from the carnal nature, and serve Him with an appreciative and loving heart.

John 12:26  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Hebrews 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Many people who profess Christianity are focused on love, while the truth is that in order to serve God we must also possess reverence and Godly fear. 

Psalms 111:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

In these latter days, many people who profess to be Christian don’t possess these qualities.  Without those qualities you will never turn from sin, and you will never become obedient to His will.

Hebrews 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Be very careful about who follows you, because if you lead them away from the teachings of Christ, you will lead them all to damnation, and you will be held responsible in the eyes of God.

To follow means to copy and to imitate.  The disciples of Jesus replicated the life of Christ to the world.  They preached God’s Word and healed people. They turned away from earthly occupations, to follow God’s calling.  The Apostle Paul wanted the church to grow by following him and his faith.  

1 Corinthians 4:14-16  I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.   For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.  Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1 Corinthians 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Philippians 3:17  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

So again, if we are going to follow Christ, it means to obey the things that He taught.  If you are going to obey the instructions of a teacher at school, or obey direction from someone who leads you through a construction site, we must humbly obey when the Lord Jesus calls out to us with those two words…..

……Follow Me

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

Proverbs 4:18  “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

One winter’s evening, back when I was about 9 years old, I went outside to play in the woods behind our house. The sun had set about 20 minutes earlier so the night was quickly approaching, but I went outside anyway. I had the mindset to make a snow fort or something similar, and I had gathered up a bunch of sticks into a pile and began to use them to form the structure of my fort, packing snow around them to lock them into place. By the time that I had somewhat of the main part of the fort completed, I realized that it had gotten very dark, but as I looked around I realized that I wasn’t completely sure where home was. I knew that I was close, but it had gotten so dark that I couldn’t really tell where it was. But then my eyes caught sight of something. Out there, in the dark, I saw a light from the kitchen. One single bright light, shining through the branches of the forest. I set my gaze upon that light, and I soon returned back home. 

Out of the darkness of the woods, that light showed me the way home.

Isaiah 60:1-3  “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”

Just as the prophet Isaiah wrote, darkness has covered the Earth, a spiritual darkness that lies on the souls of man. You do not need to look very far out into the world to realize that this is definitely not a planet filled with the Spirit of the Lord. Murder. Lies. Fornication. Drunkenness. Strife. Fightings. Need I write more? Pride. Hatred. Maliciousness. Idolatry. Sin has spread across the face of the Earth like the clouds darken and block out the sun. Sin and evil are always compared to darkness in the Bible, while to walk in the light means to live and abide in the teachings of Christ, free from sin. 

Many people are currently walking in the darkness of their sins, and they don’t want to be told that they are doing what is wrong. They love their sins, and don’t want to have to change, so they don’t come forward to be forgiven. But the truth is that if they don’t change they are essentially condemning themselves.

John 3:17-21  “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

Jesus doesn’t want us to perish because of our sins. He wants to save us, so that we no longer walk in darkness but instead can walk in the light. 

John 8:12  “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

1 John 1:5-7  “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

When we become a Christian we become “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) and we are just like that light that I saw out in the woods that night, shining bright for all to see. There are sinners everywhere that need saving, and we can be a part of leading them to Jesus through our faith in action. This was the Lord’s message to Paul when he became converted. I really find it so incredible, but the Apostle Paul literally saw the light at his conversion, and he became one of the Lord’s greatest servants, dedicating his entire life from that point onward to the furtherance of Christ. 

Acts 26:18  “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Paul truly was a shining light in this dark world, and through his writings he has led countless people into the Light. He let his light shine, so that others could see. We need to do the same. We need to let our lights shine in this dark and sin-filled world, so that they too can find their way to the Light.

Matthew 5:14-16  “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

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.

For 30 years, I’ve always had some type of housecat in our home.  When I was a child, we had guinea pigs and dogs, but I found out later that cats are pretty quiet.  They are not as demanding as other pets, and most of the work involved has to do with changing their litter.  My daughter Charity really loves animals, but up here in the woods, I’ve explained to her that there are many very dangerous ones.  I’ve always warned the children about mountain lions, which are more commonly known up here in Northern Minnesota as Cougars.  Many times the DNR will try to dismiss any danger from these animals, but the truth is that the dangers do exist. Even if one or two of them are wandering around our area, precaution needs to be exercised for the sake of the children, and the public needs to be informed.  Andrew and I work out in the woods quite regularly and know a lot of the hunters in our area.  One of them showed us a video of a cougar that was taken within 10 feet of the place that we were working at.  I’ve always taught Andrew to keep a lookout in the trees above us as we work, just to make sure that we don’t get jumped while we are in the woods. We have had cougars within one mile of our home that have been captured on game cameras by neighboring deer hunters.   Although a cougar may be cautious about trying to attack an adult, children are a different matter. Cougars like to chase a moving target, and many times will attack a small child or a pet as their prey.  I have heard from numerous people that a cougar can be attracted to a ponytail on a child’s head.

This reminds me of the Christian life

Like a hungry cougar, the devil wants to attack our children.  Like a wolf, He goes for the weaker and easier prey.  The devil is a power hungry weakling.  He is so weak that instead of attempting to confront the divine power of a true man of God, he will go after a woman and the children instead. This is what Pharaoh did when he couldn’t defeat Moses. He couldn’t defeat Moses or his God so he decided to go after the first born of Israel.  When he chose this path, his life as he knew it, was over.  God saved and delivered Israel, and destroyed the first born of Egypt.

Matthew 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Oh sure, a cougar or even a wolf, can look cute and cuddly, but the truth is that they can be extremely dangerous.  Appearances can be very deceiving. A woman can be very pretty and beautiful on the exterior, but on the inside is a betraying vicious snake. A person can be filled with smiles and laughter, while the truth is underneath they are wicked and evil.  This is the way that devils present themselves, with laughter, joy, and smiles, but they are led by the father of lies. Deceit is the most prominent tool in his tool chest. The devil can appear as a minister of righteousness but his goal is to lead you astray. 

2 Corinthians 11:13-15  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

The devil might preach the gospel wearing makeup, a fancy hairdo, a short skirt and high heels, but no matter how they may appear, it is the devil inside.  This is why we need to be filled with scripture, so that we can wisely discern the devil and his fraudulent ways.

Matthew 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Many people hated the Apostle Paul and were hoping that he would die.  He knew that upon his death, wolves would come forth and try to destroy the work that he had started.  This is how big of a weakling the devil is, too afraid to stand up against God’s chosen saints.  If he did, maybe he would go blind for a season, or end up with leprosy.  Jesus gave the disciples complete authority over all devils.  The devil is a weakling and doesn’t hold a candle to the saints of God.  He’s out of his league, attempting to fight a battle that he will lose in the end.  The saints of God are endued with power and authority, to plague the devil with sickness, disease, and death. Elymas learned that lesson quickly.

Acts 13:8-12  But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Paul knew that upon his death wolves would show up.

Acts 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

The saints have power over the devil.

Luke 10:17-19  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Like a soldier in the military, we have been given the weapons that we need in order to put down the enemy.  We need not be afraid of the devil. The time has come for the devil to run at the appearance of the saints of God. He knows he’s up against an army that he cannot defeat.  The true saints of God are part of the resistance.  They resist the works of the devil and all those who are involved with it.

1 Peter 5:8-9  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

When the saints of God stand up against the devil, he will run away with his tail between his legs.  He cannot compete with the power of God and the sword of God’s Word.

James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Never trust what something appears on the exterior.

Matthew 23:27-28  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

The devil likes to attack those who are weak, but those of us who are strong, need to stand up against his works.  The devil is weak when it comes to being taken to task by a man of God.  You have not known power until you have known the extreme power of a saint. Power to blind sinners, and power to destroy.  Power to raise the dead, and power to heal.  Powers both to forgive sinners or to bind them to damnation. If there’s anybody you don’t want to mess with, it is a saint.  Don’t be afraid of the devil,  it is time for the devil to be afraid.  The fear of God needs to be upon him and all those who follow him.  It won’t be the saints of God who lose this battle, it will be…….

……The Cougar

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, or by getting our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com, or I suppose, you can find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods.  Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️

tlkjbc.com