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 ask you a question.

When you were in school, did you ever wad up a piece of paper in your mouth, and throw it across the room at someone? These wet flying projectiles have become commonly known as a spitball and many children over the years have gotten into trouble for throwing them in class, but did you know that throwing spitballs was a fairly common thing in major league baseball?  Obviously, the players used a baseball instead, but the practice of throwing these kinds of pitches was eventually outlawed in 1920.  When a pitcher threw a spitball, he would add certain things to the ball that would cause it to react a certain way when he threw it.  If you added just a little weight to one side, it could alter the wind resistance on the ball, causing it to move in an unusual manner.  What appeared to be a certain pitch, turned out to be something completely different by the time it flew across the plate.  A scratch, a glob of hairgrease, and yes, even a little spit, could alter the physical forces upon the ball, thus completely deceiving the batter.

This reminds me of the Christian life.

There many false prophets and false teachers in the world today, who are throwing spitballs.  At first glance, it may appear that what they are pitching is the truth, but in reality, it is only a false gospel, a spitball that is only meant to deceive you.

Galatians 1:6-9  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.

To pervert the gospel is to change or corrupt it, so as to cause people to believe a lie instead.  The Scriptures lead us on the path of truth, but people who pervert it are pointing people in a different direction, and diverting them into error.  This is what the devil has been attempting to do for thousands of years, trying to lead people astray, misinterpreting and misapplying the scripture designedly in order to deceive.  Some of them may appear as an angel of light, but they need to be marked out.

Romans 16:17-19  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.  For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

Numerous deceivers are preaching contrary doctrine.  Contrary means that something is opposed and goes in the opposite direction.  One definition says,….. one of a pair of propositions that cannot both be simultaneously true.  The Bible says one thing, yet they say another.  The Apostles were preaching God’s truth, constantly filling the hearts and minds of the church with Spiritual knowledge so that they would be capable of discerning all the lies of the devil, and avoid those who were preaching false doctrine. There are people today who are not preaching what the Apostles preached. They are not preaching a fastball of truth, but a deceitful spitball of lies.

Matthew 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Many are going to be deceived, and the number grows each day.  It’s because people choose to believe lies rather than God’s Word.  It’s because they choose to believe the outward appearance, rather than the message of truth.  It’s because they choose to believe what they see, instead of what they hear.

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.

There is only one gospel, not numerous ones that are taught out in society today.  It is found in the teachings of the original Apostles, the faith that was once given unto the saints.

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.

It’s hard to hit a homerun of truth, when people are throwing spit balls, but we must know the truth so that we can identify these subtle and misleading pitches.  Searching scripture each day is a great way to fortify your mind with the truth.

Acts 17:10-11  And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Paul wasn’t a people pleaser.  He was not concerned about being politically correct.  On the other hand, he was very concerned about others coming to the knowledge of the truth in Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:3-5  For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

Many will follow after false prophets who preach heresy. Heresy is when someone holds a doctrine or belief that is at odds with established Christian doctrine.  It is an unorthodox opinion they is not founded in the rock of truth contained in the original writings of the Apostles.  

2 Peter 2:1-3  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

The reason why true men of God have been hated throughout the centuries is because when they preach God’s truth, they are persecuted by those who have been taught to believe a lie.

John 15:18-20  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

So, keep a clear eye when the devil enters into the wind-up, because he isn’t pitching biblical truth.  Be very careful that you are not deceived by them, when they begin….

…..Throwing Spitballs

Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.

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

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

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.

Hundreds of years, before the eventual creation of the Panama Canal, Europeans had searched to find some kind of viable trade route to Asia. 16th and 17th century explorers hoped to find some type of shortcut around the northern coast of North America, but many of them died trying. Even as early as 1570, British explorer Martin Frobisher was one of the first Europeans to look for the passage, but he never found it. Sir John Franklin took two ships to search for the passage from 1845 to 1848, heavily supplied with 3 years of food, but they never returned.  Henry Hudson who discovered the Hudson Bay, was set adrift on a rowboat, abandoned by his own crew as they turned around and went back to England. Many attempts were made to get through the frozen artic, only resulting in death and destruction.  The full route would not be traveled until 1903, when Roald Amudsen used a 21 meter fishing boat to make it through the entirety of the passage.

This reminds me of the Christian life.

Many people died on their attempts to find a passageway to the east.  They were searching for the route, but no one really knew the right way to go.  The same is true about the path to eternal life.  Many people will try to find the route to paradise, but will come up short. There is only one pathway, and the way has already been provided to us by God.  Unlike the explorers back then, we don’t have to sail aimlessly through this life, not knowing what direction that we need to go.  The path to eternity has already been given to us, found in following Jesus Christ. What each of us need to do, is make a course correction, reset our compass, and become obediently converted to the truth of His Word.  There is only one true passageway that leadeth unto life, and I guarantee you, this one is it.

Matthew 7:13-14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Like the northwest Passage, not very many people are going to find the path that leads to eternal life.  Many will perish because they will choose not to follow the directions on the map.  Imagine that you are the captain of a ship that is at the very beginning of the first leg of a perilous journey across the Arctic ocean.  One of your crew members approaches you with a detailed map, that explains the way to safely get to the other side.  Would you open up the map and study it, or would you try to find the way on your own?  When our family goes four-wheeling, we need to stay on the narrow trail in front of us, to find our way back to the cabin.  The same is true of eternal life.  The path to eternal life is found through the narrow path of conversion to Christ, and complete transformation through His Holy Word.  We must follow this path, and endure all the way to the end, if you truly want to obtain paradise.

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.

Conversion is a very important event in the Christian life.  It is the point when we place our complete faith in Christ Jesus, accepting that He knows the way, and we don’t.  It is the point when we recognize that we are a sinner, and take the steps that are needed to change that.  Conversion is the point in which you give up, and submit to will of God.  Converting to the Truth is the map that leads to eternal life, a path that many are never going to find.

Matthew 13:14-15  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Doing the will of God is required to live eternally in heaven. This is why conversion must happen inside of a persons heart. We must turn from sin, departing from iniquity, and obey God with a meek and submissive heart.  Like weeds in the lawn, sin must be eradicated out of our lives, and replaced with goodness and truth.  A heartfelt change must take place. A different person needs to be produced, someone who is no longer involved living in sin and wickedness anymore. A new creature must come forth, like a new building rising up from out of the ashes.  Genuine repentance must have it’s perfect work, corforming and changing the sinner into a saint.  This is the one and only path to eternity, found through faith in Christ, that will result in a complete transformation of the heart and of the mind.  

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  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. 

God calls us to convince others to turn from their sins and preach the message of repentance.

James 5:19-20  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

The passage to heaven that many won’t find, is the one that results in converting to the will of Christ Jesus.

Matthew 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

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.

Many attempts were made, and many attempts failed out in the cold Arctic waters. Although many people didn’t find the way, we can know for certain that there is a path through Christ that leads home to eternal life in heaven.  Those who become converted to His will, and faithfully endure until the very end, will eventually find their way to that divine destination. We must set a new course and focus our eyes on Christ, following His Word as our Spiritual compass, as it guides us all the way through……

……The Northwest Passage

Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.

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

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

During my childhood, some of the most favorite things that I used to play with were magnets. I had tiny magnets from a toy magnet set that I had received as a gift, and I would connect them all together to form all sorts of designs and creations. I also had some larger, stronger magnets and I would hold onto the magnet and place it underneath the kitchen table at home, and then find something metal, such as a spoon, and place it onto the top of the table. Wherever I moved the magnet while it was under the table, the spoon would follow too, like an invisible hand was making it move. 

And then I had a really, really big set of magnets. I don’t know where they came from, but they had an incredibly strong magnetic force. If you held one of these up to the metal door of a building they would literally pull you towards it, and once they attached to that door it was nearly impossible for me to pry them off. In fact, one day I had set those two magnets on the ground just a little bit too close to each other and quick as a blink they had snapped to each other and I was never able to separate them again, their bond was too strong.

This example shows how some things, which when joined together, just stay together. Just like how a marriage between a man and a woman should be, and remain.

It is the bond of love that causes a man and a woman to enter into marriage. Marriage is an institution that God created all the way back in the Garden of Eden, when God created Adam and Eve. But what some people do not seem to understand is that God doesn’t want a husband and wife to become separated by divorce. This is the subject of a conversation between Jesus and some Pharisees in Mark 10.

Mark 10:1-9  “And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.

And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

What Jesus was explaining is that it was because of the hardness of the heart that Moses had suffered a letter of divorcement to be written. Because of the lack of love in the heart. But divorce is not what God created; He created marriage. He created love.

Because God created a marriage to join two people together (man and a woman) in a lifelong commitment, why would it seem right to break up what God has created? It’s just not right to do. That’s not love.

If it was somehow possible, do you think it would be a wise idea to move the Earth 1,000 miles closer to or further away from the sun? I can assure you that that would be a terrible idea. God in His wisdom created everything according to His plan, including the institution of marriage. 

These are words from the Lord Himself. “What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” Yet many people today who claim to be Christian seem to disregard this. Let no man put asunder. It is prohibited. 

What is the main reason why divorce happens? A lack of what? Love. That is really what it comes down to. A lack of love. Are not we called to love one another? Isn’t it what Jesus said was the greatest commandments, to love God with your heart, soul, and mind, and your neighbor as yourself? Then how can one claim to love Christ if they cannot even love their spouse enough to stay with them?

Those who don’t believe in the teachings of our Lord, sure, they might divorce each other out in the world, but that is not what God wants. Divorce is wrong. Plain. And. Simple. Just don’t do it. Just like those magnets, a marriage needs to stick together until the end. Do you love Christ? Then hear His words. Let no man put asunder.

In Christ

Andrew

Goodmorning and welcome in everyone.  Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of 2 Thess.

We begin to learn obedience at a very young age within our homes. It’s learned by children as they watch their mother as she obeys her husband in everything.  We learn obedience by observing our siblings as they obey their dad perfectly.  When you obey it means to do as you are ordered or commanded.  It means to do as you are told or to be compliant to certain instructions or restrictions.  Obedience to the gospel is required, if you truly want to obtain eternal life.

2 Thessalonians 1:6-9  Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Someday God will punish those who are not going to obey the gospel of Jesus.  The word “gospel” is defined in numerous dictionaries as ” the truth “, and in order to become purified of our sins, we have to obey the truth of scripture.  It’s more than just professing to be a Christian, it’s about becoming obedient to the will of God, which is the proof that you are a Christian at heart. Some very religious people are going to come short of eternal life because of their refusal to obey scriptural truth.  

Matthew 7:21-23  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Today there are many people who profess Christianity as their faith, but they refuse to follow certain teachings of our faith.  They claim to know the Lord Jesus, but willfully refuse to come into compliance with His Holy Word, because of their disobedient hearts.

Titus 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Each of us have done wrong in the past, but the Christian life is about doing what is right. At one time each of us lived according to our own will, but now we want to submit to the will of God.  Our loyal obedience to His Word is the proof of our love for Him.  Repentance is about submitting to His desire for us.

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.

Many are going to strive to enter into heaven, but are going to come up short because of impenitance and disobedience to the truth. Instead of wholeheartedly receiving God’s Word, they contentiously fight against it.

Romans 2:5-8  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Who will render to every man according to his deeds:  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

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

2 Timothy 3:8  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

In order for us to be sanctified, we must stop sinning.  The old person that we used to be, must be discarded for a new man in Christ.  The old life that you used to live must come to an end.

Ephesians 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Obedience to God’s Word must happen, because without it, the purification process cannot be completed. Its like baking something in the oven but it only gets 80% done, and was never finished.  To overcome sin and go on unto perfection, we have to obey God’s Word

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

Our salvation depends on having a love for the truth of scripture.

2 Thessalonians 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

We must learn to obey because obedience ultimately leads to righteousness.

Romans 6:16-17  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.

There are numerous false teachers who actually claim to be Christian, who are attempting to deceive others with vain words into disobedience to Gods Word.   

Ephesians 5:5-9  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Perfect obedience will result in overcoming sin.  We must endure to the end to keep our names written in His book.

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

It is a fact that the Christian life is……

…… Learning to Obey.

Let’s think about these things for today, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow.  Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️

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Romans 12:1-2  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

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.”

When you were young, was there someone who you always tried to be like? I think that this is probably something that nearly all of us have done as children. Trying to be like your favorite TV character or superhero, dressing like them, acting like them, talking like them. Whatever it is that they did you copied and did as well. This kind of comparison is kind of what it means to “conform”. 

The dictionary definition of the word conform is “to behave in the manner of others, especially as a result of social pressure. To be in accordance with a set of specifications or regulations, or to make similar in form or nature.”

Take a look at a car dealership sometime, and look at all of the cars in the lot. For the most part, the large majority of the cars will look pretty much the same. They will vary in color and maybe a few small cosmetic differences, but they will still look mostly the same. Truck after truck, sedan after sedan, of the same makes and models, just maybe different colors. This is because that is what the normal person will buy. But many times, right at the very front of the main building, they will have one car that stands out drastically from all of the others. It may be an expensive sports car, or a special off road vehicle outfitted with gigantic oversized tires, and this vehicle is nothing like all of the others. It is different. It “stands out.”

Christians need to “stand out” from the rest of the world. They need to be different than what the world deems to be standard, or normal. Not in a “weird” or “bizarre” sort of way, but in the actions and life that they live. A Christian needs to un-conform themselves from the sinful, ungodly way that the world lives. Not everyone grows up in a Christian household and learns from God’s Word at an early age, and I will guess that most Christians were once caught up living in the world, affected by it’s influences and philosophies. It is this worldly influence that needs to be changed in one’s life. Un-conformed from the world, and then transformed into something different.

If something has been transformed it has had it’s appearance greatly changed. It’s condition, function, nature, disposition, or character is completely different than what it was previously. It has been converted.

We need to renew our mind. We need to change our way of thinking from the ways of the world to the ways of Jesus. Where once we submitted our bodies to doing evil to others, now we do good, and love. Once we may have lied, but now we speak the truth. In all things we need to base our life on the teachings of Christ, and not of the world.

2 Corinthians 5:14-17  “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.”

I was in one of our sheds the other day, and I noticed a spider on the wall. I stared at it for a while because it was rather large, but the longer that I stared at it I realized that it wasn’t actually a spider at all, but was instead the old shell/skin of a spider that it had shed. It’s old skin was just that, small and old, and when it had shed it’s old skin the spider left it behind, which is exactly what we need to do with our sins. We need to leave them behind, and become transformed in Christ. 

Don’t be like the world. Don’t conform to the world and it’s ways. Be transformed, and changed into the ways of Christ.

In Christ

Andrew

Goodmorning and welcome in everybody.  Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of our beloved Apostle James.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

The Christian life is about choosing who is going to be your friend. Either it will be the world, or it will be Jesus, but it cannot be both.  Our relationship with the Lord is very similar to the relationship that a wife has towards her husband.  In the Christian marriage the husband represents the Lord, and the wife represents the church.  We, as the bride of Christ, want to serve Him in a loyal and faithful relationship, proving by our actions that He is our greatest love. If a wife, during her marriage, begins to develop all kinds of close and intimate relationships with other men, she provokes her husband to anger.  It is a justified anger because after all, she married him, and made the decision to give herself to Him and forsake all others.  This is what people do who profess to love Jesus, yet befriend the world. They commit adultery against God.

When we are buried by baptism, completely submerged into the name of Christ, all of our past sins such as fornication or adultery are completely washed away.  At that point, we turn away from the world and its desires, to completely focus our loving eyes upon Him.  Holy baptism, (for those who will hear it,) is our wedding day unto Him.  Those who become Christian, but then turn their love and attention to the things of this world, such as an unfaithful wife, provoke God to anger.

Jeremiah 3:20  Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.

As a wife is called to love her husband and remain by his side, the bride of Christ is called to love Jesus and forsake all others.  We must forsake everything that the world can offer out of love for our precious Lord.. We must abandon earthly desires.  We must renounce anything that comes in between a perfectly loving relationship between us and Him, otherwise it’s committing adultery against Jesus.  The Apostle John warns about misplaced love, when the heart becomes focused on worldly things rather than Christ.

1 John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

When we do the will of God, we are proving how much we love Him from our hearts.  We are called to love one another, but the first commandment is to love God. Love for Him must be the greatest love in our life, above and beyond love for a neighbor, a relative, or even a wife.  A man of God must follow what he loves the most, Christ.  Solomon loved his wives so much that he began to follow them rather than God.

1 Kings 11:4-9  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.  And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.  Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.  And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.  And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

Being a friend of the world is to focus your heart on anything that may draw your attention away from perfect obedience to Christ.  For some, it is money and earthly gain.

Matt 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 love of money is so bad, it can ruin relationships, a marriage, and most of all, loyalty and love for Christ.

1 Timothy 6:8-10  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.

Many people profess to be Christian, but to sincerely claim this, would mean that you really desire to follow and obey your best friend.  Jesus defines perfectly who His true friends really are.  His friends are those who serve Him by obedience to His commands.

John 15:14-15  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Genuine love for Christ will result in doing His will and becoming transformed from the world, into the heavenly.  It is the proof of our love for Him.

Rom 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.

Abraham showed God His loving friendship through perfect obedience to His will. He proved that his love for God was above all others, even his own son.

James 2:21-24  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Just as a wife needs to prove her loyalty to her husband, we need to prove our faithfulness to Christ. He has to be our greatest love, above all others.  Today I ask you, are you a friend of the world, or are you…..

…..God’s Friend.

Let’s think about these things for today, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow.  Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

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Goodmorning and welcome in everyone.  Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to share something with you.

One time there was a young boy who sat down at the supper table with a group of his relatives.  While the family ate and talked about current events, the granddad would smile and quietly eat his food.  When the conversation was directed towards the grey haired gentleman, he just kept eating and smiling. After a few minutes, all eyes at the table started staring at him, expecting some kind of response, but again, all he did was nod, smile and eat his meal.  Eventually the young boy placed his hand on the granddads arm, and pointedly asked him a question.  “Just a moment….”  he said, and reached behind his ear, to turn on his hearing aid.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

Some people are completely oblivious to things that are being discussed.  How many of you parents have commanded your children to do something, but later they say, I didn’t hear you? Some students can sit in class for hours on end, and never even hear a thing that is taught.  One thing is for certain, God’s sheep are good listeners, and they hear His voice perfectly.

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

The sheep of Jesus Christ listen to His voice.  They listen to His voice through the teachings of scripture.  They listen to His voice as He guides them in the truth. They listen to His voice when He calls them out of darkness.  They listen to His voice as He turns them away from sin.  Hearing God’s Word is proof that you are of God.  

John 8:47  He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

The evidence of a true Christian, is their response to biblical truth.  If they don’t want to do what it says, then you know for certain that they are not of God.  This is because they won’t follow the shepherd of the sheep! Only those who are of the truth, will listen to the Words of Christ.

John 18:37 ….and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

In the world, people might listen to a teacher at school or a professor at college. They might listen to their next door neighbor or their children. They even might listen to their boss at work or their wife, but the true sheep of God will listen to God over and above all others. Scripture was given to us by men who were filled with the Holy Spirit of God.  They preach what Jesus taught them, guiding the flock of God to loving obedience to Christ.  The world will listen and be influenced by the world, while those who are of God will listen and be influenced by the Spirit of God.

1 John 4:5-6  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Obviously, In order to follow someone, you must listen to what they say.  Many times a pet won’t listen to strangers, but they certainly give heed to the voice of their owner.

John 10:1-5  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

True sheep of God are ready and willing to obey Gods Words and His commands. They will follow their Shepherd wherever He leads them, as He guides them down the narrow road to eternal life.  Some people may appear as sheep on the exterior, but inwardly prove that they are wolves.  True sheep can quickly discern the false ones because the counterfeits refuse to obey Gods Word. They claim to be followers of Jesus, but they really don’t follow what He commands, proving they don’t love the shepherd.

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 Lord speaks to us through the teachings He gave His Apostles.  Those who won’t hear them are certainly not one of God’s sheep.

Luke 10:16  He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

Salvation depends upon being a good listener, following Gods instructions and directions, given through Holy scripture.  

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Someday God is going to have a place at His right hand, for His true sheep.

Matthew 25:32-33  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

The Lord certainly knows those who completely belong to Him.

John 10:14  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

The proof that you have truly heard and received God’s Word into your heart, is becoming a faithful doer of what it says.

James 1:21-25  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.

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

So I ask you today, are you listening to the teachings of God’s Word?  Are you really….

…..Hearing His Voice.

Let’s think about these things for today, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow.  Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

Please take note that we have absolutely no affiliation with any advertisement you might find on our posts. Thanks!

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1 Corinthians 8:3  “But if any man love God, the same is known of him.”

In order for a person to get into a special event, such as a music concert or a play, most often it is required that a person has some kind of a pass, such as a ticket, to be able to enter in. You may join a large line of people waiting to get into this event, and as each person presents their ticket to the worker at the entrance, one by one they get admitted in. It is that ticket that is your “key” that shows that you can be let in. 

The ticket itself may even have been free, but you still need to have one to gain entrance, and when you show your ticket to the person at the window they know that you are able to be let in. Others may be in line along with you, but unless they too have a ticket that they have been given, they will not be able to enter in.

There are many people on this Earth. Many people who Jesus died for and wants to save. It is like Jesus has offered up a bunch of free tickets to enter into the kingdom of Heaven which anyone can come and get. Anyone can have the free gift of eternal life but they need to come to the Lord. The Lord knows those who are His. He knows those who love Him and those who don’t. It is shown by a person’s actions.

Matthew 22:1-14  “And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 

But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Many people are called. Jesus wants all men to repent of their sins and come to Him. Not everyone will, but that does not change that Jesus still died for them and loves them just the same. To receive the gift of eternal life all one needs to do is turn from their sins and love Him back. The sad thing is that not everyone does, and that is why few are chosen. Few will be saved.

Luke 13:23-27  “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

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

When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”

There will be those on Judgement Day who will want to enter through those gates into Heaven but will not be able. They didn’t keep the Lord’s commands and He will tell them, I don’t know you. They will cry and gnash their teeth but it will be too late. They should have done the will of Christ before while they had their chance, because on that day it will be too late. Their time will have run out.

When we love the Lord, it will be evident by our actions. We will keep His commandments and seek to do His will, and Jesus will see this. He knows who believe in Him and those who don’t, and when we keep His will we can know that we are known of Him.

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.”

So have you gotten your ticket yet? Are you standing in line, waiting? Do you know God, and on that day will you be known of Him?

In Christ,

Andrew

Have you ever tried planting grass seed by using a grass seeder? When you use the seeder a little wheel will spin and distribute the seeds all over the place as you walk across your yard. It is not completely precise however, as some of the seeds may spread to not so good areas to grow. Some seeds may float over to the concrete sidewalks, some of them may get spread into the bushes next to your house, but ideally most of them get to the good, fertile ground of your yard.

But unless you go and start spreading those seeds you will not have any grass begin to grow. Not all of the seeds may grow, some of them may be eaten by animals or washed away by the rain, but you have to at least plant those seeds.

The Bible is like a bag of seeds, and those seeds are seeds of faith that can be sown into the hearts of others. 

Mark 4:1-9  “And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

And a few verses later Jesus explains the meaning of the parable to His disciples.

Mark 4:14-20  “The sower soweth the word.

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

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.

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.”

As we read, not all of those seeds will find a good place to root in someone’s heart. Not everyone will receive the word of God and accept it as the truth. Someone may even start to believe in the Lord for a short while but something may happen to prevent that growth from going further. During times of temptation or persecution they may fall away, and the seed of faith that was planted in them may die. Other times a person may hear the word of God preached but the riches and treasures of the earth are just more important to them than Christ, so the word of God just doesn’t grow and bear fruit in themselves. Finally those seeds that do reach deep down inside of a person can begin to grow, and grow strong until life eternal.

You can look at the lives of the Apostles, and Jesus Himself as well for that matter. They were out, preaching, explaining the scriptures to people, but not everyone who heard what they were preaching believed in it. They may have preached to an entire crowd of people but maybe only a handful believed what they heard, we don’t know. But even though some of those seeds never grew didn’t mean that they stopped preaching. They continued at it. They continued sowing those seeds into hearts.

Those that preach always need to remember that they aren’t in charge of the growth of the seeds. God will take care of that. That is His department. Our job is just to keep planting. Over the years of my life I have planted many seeds for many plants, so I know that if I am only going to plant one tomato plant in my garden then I should not expect piles of fruit. So I plant several plants. Maybe some of my plants die for some reason, but that is why I planted a lot of them. To have a lot of fruit.  

1 Corinthians 3:6-8  “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”

So plant a lot. Plant a lot of seeds into the hearts of those you meet. And let God bring forth the fruit.

In Christ

Andrew

Goodmorning and welcome in everyone.  Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Hebrews.

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.

The Christian faith is about becoming pleasing unto God.  To please God, requires that we obey God.  If you are going to be successful at a job, you need to do the will of your employer because obedience pleases them and can ultimately result in promotion!  When we please God, it means to make Him happy and satisfy Him by obediently fulfilling His desire and His will for us.  But I guarantee you,that you are never going to do the will of God if you don’t possess faith in your heart.  Faith is so important that without it, it’s impossible to please him.  In order to obey, you must have faith.  Faith is what causes us to look at scripture and obediently do what it says.  Disobedience to biblical truth does not please God, but stirs Him up to anger.  If you’re boss at work gave you a list of commands and instructions, but you refused to do them while He was gone, do you think that when He returns He will rejoice?  Of course not. When people don’t believe what the Bible says, that’s called unbelief, and unbelief is a sin.

Romans 14:23  ……for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

When we obediently do the will of God, it is the proof that we possess genuine faith in Jesus.  The disciples could tell you numerous times what the Scriptures teach, but if you really don’t believe what they say, its impossible for you to do God’s will.  Faith is required.  I might tell you that you need spark plugs in your old late model pickup in order for the engine to run.  But if you reject that information, no matter how many times you might try to start it, you can just forget it, because without them, it is impossible for it to run.  We must trust God’s way rather than our own.  Both Andrew and my wife are witnesses that I said I would never teach anybody anything, because I absolutely loathed teaching. But when I became a believer and was baptized into the Christian Life, I understood that my personal beliefs were in direct conflict with God’s will and purpose for me. In order to show my love to God, I needed to do something completely against my will, something that I absolutely hated, and comply to His purpose, rather than my own.  For a Christian, faith is having trust and confidence in the Lord Jesus and the teachings of the Christian Church, that were once given to the saints. It is the obligation of loyalty and fidelity to the one whom we claim to believe in, resulting in complete submission and obedience to His will.  Without this kind of faith, pleasing God is impossible.  To obtain eternal life, pleasing God is a requirement, and it was commanded to the church.

Colossians 1:10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Our God loves our faithful obedience.

1 Thessalonians 4:1  Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

Hebrews 13:20-21  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

God is a rewarder. If you do something nice for an earthly parent, more than likely there is going to be a reward.  If you have good behavior all week long, and you are bringing home good grades, your dad will probably let you use the car over the weekend. Its a reward for your faithful achievements. If you were to get kicked out of school, or the principal gave you detention or suspended you, do you think that your parents are actually going to reward that behavior?  Of course not.  Some people in society who are complete unbelievers, will recognize the truth of that statement, while some who profess to be Christian don’t.  They want to believe that they are going to receive the reward of eternal life, yet live as a disobedient and rebellious child to His calling.  Those who choose that path are going to receive a different reward.

2 Peter 2:13-14  And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness,….

Our passage teaches us that God will reward those who diligently seek Him.  Diligence is defined as steady, earnest and energetic effort, being constant in the attempt to accomplish something.  It’s to be actively and fully engaged.  We want to seek God with an energetic effort, showing our love and desire to be near Him.

Jeremiah 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Have you ever looked around your house trying to find something?  Was it a halfhearted attempt, or did you search for it with great diligence?  God’s blessings come to those who wholeheartedly seek Him.

Psalms 119:2  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

God doesn’t want just our prayers, He wants our hearts and our love wrapped up within our prayers. Like little messages that are wrapped up in roses for Him.  Some people pray religiously, only to be seen of others, but God doesn’t want religion, He wants a relationship.  As a loving heavenly Father, He has numerous ways that He can reward our seeking hearts toward Him.  He can bestow upon us Spiritual gifts.  He can heal us. He can grant us wisdom and knowledge.  He can fill us with joy and peace.  He can provide for our physical needs in this world as well, giving us freely all things to enjoy.

Psalms 34:10  The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

The one thing that is an absolute certainty, is that you can’t receive anything if you don’t even bother seeking Him out, or asking Him.

Matthew 7:7-8  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

If we truly want to please God, we need to go looking for Him until we find Him.

Proverbs 7:15  Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

We find favor with Him when we seek Him in this manner.

Proverbs 8:35  For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Psalms 63:1  O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Today I ask you, how earnestly do you seek God? Do you fully engage your heart and mind each day to be near Him?  Do you seek His presense, like trying to find water in a dry and…….

……Thirsty Land

Let’s think about these things for today, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow.  Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

Please take note that we have absolutely no affiliation with any advertisement you might find on our posts. Thanks!

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