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.

There are numerous things that the world does that are completely forbidden for people who profess faith in Christ.  The world has a certain set of philosophies that they live by, but as a born again Christian, we must never look to the world as an example on how to live our lives.  We must not look to them for guidance, but rather seek the guidance of the church. We are to follow Christ, not the world.  The world lives the way the world does, but followers of Christ are called to live our lives in accordance with biblical truths. What is accepted as the norm in society is not acceptable within the church, such as the role of women.

1 Timothy 2:11-15  Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.  For Adam was first formed, then Eve.  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.  Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Learning is a process of life, beginning since childhood.  We learn how to eat with a fork and a spoon.  We learn how to tie our shoes all by ourselves.  We learn how to ride a bike, or to shovel snow.  Learning is a process of acquiring knowledge of an ability to do something.  When I first got married, my wife told me that she didn’t cook, so over the years I taught her.  She eventually got very good at it, even making fresh bread out of a wood cook stove.  We learn many things in this life such as how to play an instrument, how to read and write, and in the church, how to love and obey Jesus.  I understand that things are quite different out in the world, but within the church, women are commanded to be active learners from men.  I don’t expect an unbelieving woman to submit to a man, because they don’t believe in Jesus.  On the other hand, a woman who professes faith in Christ must place themselves in subjection, first to a husband, and secondly to the male leadership in the church.

To exhibit genuine submission when being taught, requires being silent.  One must refrain from interjecting their own opinions or thoughts in the matter.  Even in numerous colleges in the world, when you go listen to a teacher lecture on a certain topic, everybody remains quiet and intently listens.  Teaching is a position of authority over others.  The Apostle Paul commanded married women to learn from their own husband, just as a general commands a soldier to submit to His commanding officer.  Submission is to yield yourself to the controlling authority in your life, whomever that may be.  Women, as a whole, were forbidden from participating in church services, or the teaching of scripture in any capacity.  Those who feel that they have the authority to grant women the ability to do this, are not only usurping over the Apostle Paul, but Jesus Christ Himself.  The Holy Spirit is one Spirit, and they only prove by their actions that they don’t possess it.  The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey, not to the rebellious. (Acts 5:32) 

1 Corinthians 14:34-38  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.  What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.  But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Men are called by God to teach the women, instructing them in God’s Word, not the other way around.  There is a right way and a wrong way to do things. A young child doesn’t come up to their dad and rebuke him and tell him what to do because it’s disorderly, neither does a woman have the authority granted to her to rebuke a man or tell him what to do.  That is completely outside her realm in the Christian Life.  Unbelieving women may live like this, but as a Christian, one must remember that the way of the world is not the way of Christ Jesus and His church.

The Apostle Paul didn’t allow certain things to go on, such as women teaching scripture, or going over man’s authority.  Jesus and His Holy Spirit guides and counsels a man, not a woman.  Obviously, men of God have no control over what goes on outside of the church, but once you enter the church, you come under the authority and the teachings of Christ and the disciples.  A woman who will not submit to men might leave the church, rejecting what she has been taught.  When she does this, she is outside discipline and correction from within the church, but opens herself up to punishment from the Lord Jesus for her wilful rebellion.  Satan doesn’t want to submit or be controlled either.  That is the nature of the devil.  Before the return of the Lord Jesus, he will usurp over everything that is called God, no different than a woman who usurps men in the church.  Scripture refers to these type of women as Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, even believing she is spiritual, but she is a liar and a deceiver.

Revelation 2:20  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Like different tools inside of a toolbox, each of us are called by God to different functions. The authority of women in the church are men, and men will always have the rule over them in their service to the faith.  Man was created directly by God, but woman was created through the man.  He was created to serve God, while woman was created to serve man.  

1 Corinthians 11:3, 7-9  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.  For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.  For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.  Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

God is a God of order, and as children need to obey parents, as a wife needs to submit and obey her husband, women must obey the men of the church, who are watching over your souls.  It is their responsibility to educate and lead you into perfect obedience to Christ, and it’s your responsibility to submit to them. Whatever it may be, each of us need to walk according to ……..

……Gods Purpose.  

Let’s think about these things for right now, 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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A long, cross country road trip in a car can be a memorable experience as you visit new places, see new things and try new foods. But all of that time spent in a car can eventually begin to become uncomfortable. Just sitting on the seat of the car, you are rather restricted in your movements. You can sort of lean back and forth and move your legs around a little, but eventually you will reach a point where you just have to get out of the car because you just got too uncomfortable. As soon as you open up your car door and step out, what do you do after such a long ride? You spread your arms out wide and stretch your muscles out and walk around to loosen up the rest of your body.

Doesn’t that feel so good? We all probably do this every morning when we wake up. After a good night’s rest you throw your legs over the side of your bed, stand up and stretch. It feels so nice doesn’t it? Any of those tired, stiff muscles feel so much better once you stretch them out, much like a massage. When you massage a sore muscle it begins to loosen up and by the time that you have finished it will feel so much better, almost like it was “brand new.”

But that is a fact of life. Our bodies all become older over the years. The strength that one may have had while they were young will diminish somewhat when they become older. Our bodies will “wear out” like a tire on a car. We will develop pains in areas where we never had them before. We might become tired after a short run, as we realize that we are not as young as we used to be. 

But through all of these aches and pains, we can all look forward to the day when we will be in a place where there is no more pain. No more sickness, no more tears from the broken bones and bruises. That day is the day in which we go to be with the Lord. 

Romans 8:16-25  “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

In Heaven we will no longer feel pain. There will be no more sorrow, no more tears, no more aches and pains. And as death is representative of sin, there will of course be no more death in Heaven, but we all all live forever. What an amazing day that will be! 

Revelation 21:1-4  “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Do not despair, if you love the Lord and keep His commandments you will be the beneficiary of His blessings. We just need to be filled with patience until that glorious day. It is coming, and although no one knows when that day is, we need to diligently and patiently wait for it, so that one day we can wake up, and “stretch” as we step through those pearly gates.

In Christ,

Andrew

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.

In the world, people judge others simply by what they see on the exterior.  As a Christian we’re supposed to walk by faith, not by sight.  Many times they will judge those who are wealthy and successful as decent and moral people, while treating the poor as lazy, sinful wretches.   

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

We should never pass judgement upon others based simply on outward appearances. There is an old saying, clothes don’t make the man.  We should never make judgments about others at first glance, because God judges the heart.

John 7:24  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Matthew 3:1-4  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Some people may have thought that John looked strange, and that he was completely different than the rest of society, while the truth is, he was one of the richest men in the world,….inside of his heart.

Matthew 11:7-9  And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.  But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

John the Baptist was a prophet of God, but he wasn’t concerned about outward appearances.  He wasn’t focused on attaining earthly wealth or possessions.  He was filled with spiritual treasures that come from seeking God.  Some people in the church were judging others by appearances, based on the things that they wore on the exterior. 

James 2:1-9  My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.  For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;  And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:  Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

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?  But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?  Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

The King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ, appeared like everyday common people. When they came to apprehend Him in the garden, they couldn’t even tell which one He was amongst His fishermen Apostles. Judas had to identify Jesus by giving Him a kiss.

Matthew 26:47-50  And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.  Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.  And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.  And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

So again, we should never judge by outward appearances, because what is on the exterior can be deceiving.  Jesus warned about the religious leaders of His day who did things only for the purpose of being seen by men, rather than serving God in their heart.

Matthew 23:5-8, 25-28  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,  And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,  And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.  Woe unto you, scribes and  Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.  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.

They appeared like sheep, but the truth is, they were wolves in heart, trying to lead the true sheep of God away from biblical truth. 

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

Instead of seeking the glory that comes from God, there were seeking the glory of men.

Matthew 6:2, 5, 16  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

These same people can still be found in professing Christian bodies today, claiming that they know God, but rejecting the things that He commanded and taught in scripture.

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.

God doesn’t judge appearances. He judges the hidden things that others cannot see, inside of the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

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

So remember, don’t make assumptions about what a person is like, simply by the clothes that they wear, the vehicle they drive, or even somebody they might have dinner with.  You’ve got to get to know somebody, and truly know if their heart is in the right place, instead of hastily judging them……

…..At First Glance.

Let’s think about these things for right now, 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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Goodmorning and welcome in everyone.  Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from 1 John 2.

1 John 2:1-2  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

First of all, the Apostle was writing to the church so that they wouldn’t get involved with sin anymore.  Many passages in the scriptures teach us that as christians, God wants us to go and sin no more. We shouldn’t participate in sinful living because we are called out of darkness into His marvelous light.  We need to undergo a change from the way that we used to live, and become a new creature in Christ, using God’s blessed Mercy to be transformed according to His will.

1 Peter 2:9-11  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.  Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Romans 6:1-2  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

We may have lived and sinned in the past, but now we are now supposed to turn away from that lifestyle to walk in loving obedience to the one who laid down His life for us at the cross. He died as a sacrifice to delete our past, so we could begin a new future.

1 Peter 4:3  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  All of us have followed and obeyed the carnal nature at one time or the other.  When we become Christian, we can receive the Holy Spirit, through faithful obedience to Jesus Christ, so that we can overcome sin.  Although we still have to contend with the carnal nature, we can overcome its desires through the power of the Holy Spirit.  This is why we need to listen to the teachings and guidance of Holy Scripture.  Those who name the name of Christ are supposed to depart from iniquity.  To depart means to leave something behind.  It’s like entering into a home, but leaving your work boots on the deck.  It’s like taking a load of trash, and leaving it in a dumpster.  We must depart the sinful deeds of the flesh.  The apostles preached God’s Word for this very reason, that we would walk in the Spirit, growing into maturity and perfection.

2 Corinthians 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

When a person is a piano player, they will begin to learn a song for an upcoming recital.  Day by day they work on it, practicing their parts over and over again, until they eventually get it right.  Obviously it doesn’t happen immediately because they need to work at it.  The Christian Life is very similar as we strive day-by-day towards perfection.  It’s a race that begins each morning when you place your feet on the floor and get out of bed, continuing steadfastly in our faith.  

Like a small child who falls off their bicycle, If we sin, God provides us grace in our time of need, to get back up and try it again. We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  An advocate is someone who pleads in your favor, to another.  Jesus Is Our Savior, who stands in between us and God the Father.  He speaks on behalf of sinners.  Jesus is perfect, and has always pleased the heavenly father perfectly.  He laid down His life at the cross as an atoning sacrifice for sinners.  Even before we repented of our sins, even before our lives went through a change, even before we became perfected, Jesus died on the cross to save us.

Romans 5:6-11  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

An atonement is something that makes up for our misdeeds.  Jesus gives us the opportunity through His grace to become a new creature from what we were in our past. An ample supply of God’s grace, acting deep within a sinner’s heart, can cause the disobedient to become obedient.  It can result in the unfaithful becoming faithful.  It can cause an old man of sin to become a new man in Christ.

Ephesians 4:22-24  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

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

Jesus laid down His life, not just for our sins within the church, but the sins of the entire world.  It’s not God’s will that people perish, but He wants all men to come to repentance. He provides grace so that we can turn around from our life of sin, and do His perfect will. He forgives us so that we can go on unto perfection. God sent His Son Jesus as a propitiation for us so that we could do that very thing.

Romans 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

A propitiation is an act of gaining or regaining the favor or goodwill of someone or something.  It’s an appeasement and sacrifice to God. 

1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Remember that we must go on unto perfection by walking daily in compliance to biblical truth.  God is a rewarder of those who dilligently seek Him, and an obedient heart pleases Him greatly. 

Let’s think about these things for right now, 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!  

Take a look at a scientific formula or equation some time. Can you make sense of it? Most people can understand the basic fundamentals of science such as the elements, the human body and such, but when it comes down to reading, writing, and understanding a complex scientific formula, most people just cannot understand it. You can stare at a piece of paper with the writing on it for hours but without someone helping you to understand it it will all seem like gibberish.

I like to take apart small motors on occasion, maybe clean a few things, replace a few broken parts, and put them back together. But that is the extent to my knowledge. So for any more complex or difficult repairs we will take our motors to a mechanic who has years worth of knowledge and understanding. I sometimes watch as they work, and I am amazed at how little I know about fixing a motor. It is like I am a baby and I am trying to learn a second language. I just feel completely confounded.

Likewise, those who are not filled with the Holy Spirit just cannot understand the spiritual teachings and doctrines of Christ. You have two different time types of wisdom in the wisdom of the world and the wisdom that comes from God. They are completely different, as the wisdom that comes from God is so, so much more deep and important in comparison to the world’s wisdom. Because of this, the world simply cannot understand the wisdom of God. They may think that they are wise with all of the wisdom that they have attained from years of learning the information in the world, but it is all unimportant overall.

1 Corinthians 1:18-21  “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

If you talk to a person who has ingrained themselves in the world and it’s philosophies, they will have a very difficult time understanding the things that are found in the Bible. To them it will seem like foolishness to spend time learning about Christ, but that “foolishness” is wiser than they will ever be able to become. 

1 Corinthians 1:25-28  “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:”

Let us seek after that wisdom. The world and everything in it, all of the knowledge, all of the achievements-it will all be gone soon. Our lives are a vapour, here one moment and gone the next, just like the world and it’s wisdom. Seek the wisdom that comes from God, whose knowledge will last you forever.

In Christ,

Andrew

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.

For many years, I’ve done our laundry at the laundromat. After I get the detergent into the machine, many times when I look into my wallet, I realize that I don’t have any quarters.  So, I grab a few dollar bills, and walk over to the change machine, inserting them slowly, and facing in the right direction.  Voila, a few moments later the bills are sucked into the machine and changes into coins!  What was completely unusable before, is transformed into something that I can now deposit into the machines, to perform the function that I need done.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

Just like a dollar bill, we need to go through the change machine of truth, and come out something completely different than what we were before.  To be completely transformed from sinful living, we need to be born again by the Word of God. 

Peter 1:22-23  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

In order for us to truly be born again, it requires acceptance and obedience to God’s will and purpose in our lives.  It’s a process of self-denial of our own wishes and desires, and becoming obedient to what God wants us to become.  Before I became a believer, I told my wife that there was no way I would ever teach anything to anybody because I absolutely loathed the profession.  As a Christian, I learned that I needed to change my thinking in this matter, because teaching and instructing others in the faith is something that God calls men to do in the church.  If I had been born a woman, I would have enjoyed staying home with my children all day and taking care of the house and family, but God called me to something else, and I needed to rise up obediently to his desire for me, rather than my own.  This is a process of becoming born again by accepting the truth.

John 3:3-7  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

We must be born again through the acceptance and application of God’s Word in our lives.  God’s Word is the Holy Spirit written on paper.  Many different men were used by God over thousands of the years, moved by the power of the Holy Spirit, to write things to help guide people to the truth in Christ.  Submitting to the Holy Spirit is to submit to the teachings of scripture.

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

We must become sanctified and purified from sin, by allowing God’s Word to transform and change us from the inside out.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We can never truly change in our hearts until we learn to yield to God. Lasting change requires submission, meekness, contrition and humility.  In order to drive the motor of obedience in our hearts, these qualities must be functioning and hitting on all cylinders, because only then will you yield to the truth and move on unto perfection.

Like the Apostle Paul, when you first become a Christian, there can be some very drastic changes that happen quickly in your life, but the more that you mature in the faith, it may require smaller modifications. What I mean is, there are smaller adjustments that needs to be done.  The carburetor on my chainsaw might be working well, but there is a little adjustment that needs to be done to make it run more perfectly.  The Apostle wanted to help others on the path of perfection in their faith.  

1 Thessalonians 3:10  Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Colossians 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

When we begin the Christian Life, we are baptized by submersion into the name of Jesus Christ.  When we come up out of the water, we are like a baby coming out of the womb of God.  We begin to take our first steps in the faith, beginning the path of transformation from what we were in the past, to a new creature of obedience and faithfulness to Christ.  Without obedience to the truth, the Christian life comes up short.  To fully convert to the will of God, we must go through the change machine of scripture, the incorruptible seed of God.

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

Change is the passageway that each of us must go through, in order to enter into eternity.  If you don’t ever obey the Bible or the things that it teaches us, how will you ever change and become purified?  Purification is a process by which things are cleansed out of our hearts, minds, and lives.

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

Transformation can happen through obedience to God’s Word, which ultimately will produce a new man in Christ.  It’s a process of putting off the old man, and walking daily, maturing into a new man of God.

Ephesians 4:22-24  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

So in order to obtain heaven, all of us are going to need to change. We must submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit found in the Scriptures.  We need to become something different than what we were in our past.  This is going to require the application of biblical truth, by which we are purified and sanctified.  

So the next time you look inside your wallet, I want you to stop for a moment and examine your hearts.  Has it been converted to the truth yet?  Do you have…

…..Any Change?

Let’s think about these things for right now, 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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Proverbs 24:10  “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.”

Have you ever heard this phrase: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”? The meaning of this phrase is said to emphasize that when there are problems, strong people work hard to solve or overcome them.

With that being said, what is something that you have done or tried to accomplish, but part of the way through you ran into some kind of obstruction or problem that complicated it? 

I’ll tell you a personal story. One time I had to take a carburator off of a small engine because it wasn’t working properly. After separating the carburator from the engine, I completely took it apart and cleaned it out. Then came the time for me to put it back onto the engine. Now I will tell you right now that I can take most things apart relatively easily, but it is the putting things back together that I sometimes struggle with, and it happened with this small engine. For some reason I could not get two of the screws back into place. For over an hour I struggled to fit my screwdriver into a position to where I could put everything back together once again. Just two screws left and I was done! But for an hour I couldn’t do it. Eventually I did finally get them back in, but I never would have gotten them done if I hadn’t pushed through that difficult moment.

We will go through many trials, temptations, and persecutions as a child of God. Stumbling blocks, if you will, that the devil will try to toss in our path to try to bring us down. That is what the devil will do, try to cause as much pain and hardships as he can to try to dissuade people from believing in Jesus.

1 Peter 5:6-10  “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

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.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Many times Paul had to endure suffering at the hands of others. Paul was stoned, he was beaten with rods, thrown into prison. But through all of these difficult times, how many times did he lose his faith in Christ? None. Someone named Alexander the coppersmith did much evil towards Paul, but through all of these things that he had to endure, he persevered. He never let himself become weak in the faith.

2 Timothy 4:14-18  “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

We need to be like a young tree in a storm, which when the heavy winds blow that tree  ight sway back and forth but it never breaks. It doesn’t fall down, but weather’s that storm.

Be strong in your faith. Don’t let anything or anyone break you down and weaken your faith. Set your faith and found it on the Rock. In Christ.

In Christ,

Andrew

Goodmorning and welcome in everyone.  Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from Matthew 19.

Matthew 19:29-30  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

First of all, the Lord Jesus speaks about forsaking houses.  The word forsake, means to abandon, desert and leave without intending to return.

When I became a Christian, I wanted to be able to claim this promise, so I turned away from my own home and left, for the sake of the gospel and for Jesus.  Eventually we ended up in a small little town in Northern Minnesota where we have been ever since.  The Lord teaches that if you are capable of doing this, you will receive eternal life.  It all comes down to what you love the most in this life, Jesus or the world.  He must be our greatest love.  Its been said that one of the biggest investments in your life is your home.  To some, a home becomes the object of their affection.  It’s the thing that they are most concerned about.  The first commandment is to love God, while the truth is that some people love their home more.

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.

Things can come in the way of a relationship with God.  That’s what happens when your love is misplaced.  Whatever you love the most, is going to create a tipping point on a scale. The more you love one thing, the less you love the other. 

Luke 14:18-20  And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.  And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

He speaks about forsaking father, mother, sister or brother.  These are blood relationships.  Remember that the Apostle Paul was a Jew.  The Jews were related by blood.  Think of what the Apostle must have went through when he converted to Christianity.  He had to turn away from the religion of his family that he had been raised in. Moses was raised from a child in the household of Pharoah.  He was raised in certain beliefs as other Egyptians.  When he became a believer, he forsook the family that he was raised by, and turned away from everything Egypt had to offer him.  He could have been Pharoah, but gave it up to follow the Lord.  These actions in his life proved what was his greatest love.

Jesus forsook His mother and family.

Matthew 12:46-50  While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.  Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.  But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?  And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Remember,  it doesn’t teach that a wife can forsake her husband.  Its forbidden for her to depart from her marriage and she is called do follow and obey her husband in everything.  For some, love for relatives is a stumbling block that prevents them from loving the Lord Jesus perfectly, and doing his will.

Luke 9:59-62  And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.  And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Luke 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Nicodemus was taught that we need to be born again in the Spirit.  When we do so, we are going to have new Spiritual family, who belong to the family of God.

Mark 10:29-30  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Christianity is about a spiritual rebirth into a new family who loves the Lord Jesus Christ.  Earthly blood relationships will persecute those who are born of the Spirit.

Matthew 10:34-37  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Remember, that the disciples forsook everything in order to be with Jesus.  They were with Him all the time.  Love is a powerful emotion, and it must be placed on Jesus Christ more than anything else.  Sadly, some disciples left the Apostle Paul, because they loved the world more.

2 Timothy 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Earthly relatives are some of the closest relationships that develop in the early stages of your life.  When you become an adult, you will need to decide who is your greatest love.  If you are capable of turning away from relatives to follow and obey Christ, you will inherit eternal life,  not only that, but you will receive 100 fold, now in this lifetime.  What a promise for those who love Christ more than anything in this world.  For them, their faith has truly hit….

…..The Tipping Point 

Let’s think about these things for right now, 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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Whatever it is that you allow yourself to obey, that is what you serve. It really is like the cartoons in which a little devil sits on one shoulder and an angel sits on the other. This illustration represents the struggle and war the goes on in the mind of each person. To turn right, or to turn left. To do something or to not. To do right, or to do wrong. To obey Christ, or to obey the devil. Whichever decision that someone makes is what they obey. They are a servant to whatever they obey. 

A servant, as defined in the dictionary, is someone who performs the duties for another. It is also similar to what a disciple is, which is someone who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.

Romans 6:16-23  “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Paul explained that before we become servants of Christ, we are all servants of sin. We all do what we want, live how we want, regardless of whether it is what Jesus taught or not. There are many things that may not be “wrong” according to the world, but according to the teachings of God’s Word they are, and it is between these two decisions that each person needs to choose from. Who are you going to be a servant to?

With either decision that is chosen, each has its own reward, although the “reward” for the choice to obey sin is in fact a punishment of death. Knowing this, why would someone choose to obey sin instead of obeying the teachings of Christ? But that is the choice that each person has to make.

Have you ever watched a video of a captured animal being released back into the wild? As soon as the door of whatever cage they are in is opened, nearly immediately that animal shoots out as fast as it can and runs back to freedom. They could choose to sit in the cage I guess, but I don’t believe that I have ever heard about that happening. They all want to be freed from that captivity. Just like a ball and chain on a prisoner. Given a choice of having that chained to their ankle and being freed from it, I don’t know anyone who would want to be under that kind of burden. We all want to be free. 

We can have freedom from our sins, but we need to make the choice to serve Christ, and not sin. I want to receive eternal life, don’t you? I want to be freed from the clutch of sin the weighs us down, don’t you? We should all look to the lives that the apostles of the Lord lived, and model ourselves after them. 

John 8:31-36  “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

So what is it that you serve? Are you a servant of sin, or are you a servant of Christ?

In Christ,

Andrew

Good morning and welcome in everyone. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture from Heb 4:16 but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.

One Summer many years ago, I was trying to find a hobby to do on the weekends that would be fun and enjoyable but inexpensive at the same time. During my lunch breaks at work I would search through the hobby magazines to see what interested me. One day I came across model airplanes. Since I was a kid I always wanted to fly. The thought of looking across the landscape from 3000 feet up was very interesting to me but I knew that I’d probably never be able to afford the real thing. Model airplanes seemed that they would be the next best thing for me.

One weekend after work I went down to the Hobby Shop to buy one. Many of the kits were made out of balsa wood and they told me that if you crashed it you’d probably have to buy a brand new kit again. They recommended a very forgiving plane for first-time learners which I eventually puchased. It came with a 6-foot wingspan and they referred to it as a dummy plane because if you crashed it, you could repair it very easily because it was made out of Styrofoam and plastic.

I opened up the box in my living room and over a weekend, I had it completely built. It was pretty big. I went to the store and bought a good motor and a prop. I also bought an RC controller and a charger with all the servos. After a few more days I had everything ready to fly. The huge wing was detachable by rubber bands otherwise it would have never fit in my car when I went to the field. I gassed it up and charged the batteries overnight and one Saturday morning I took off to a park to see how it flew.

I took out my electric starter to start the prop and that motor buzzed loudly as if to tell me I’m ready to go. I cranked up the throttle and up in the air she went but because I didn’t have my ailerons set right, she rolled on her side and went crashing into the ground. I picked up the pieces and went back home and spent the afternoon on fixing it. The next Sunday morning I went to the park again and fired it up. She took off into the air. Everything was looking great until my plane ran into the power line that I didn’t see and almost tore my wing in half. Off to the store I went to buy glue and new props.

Each night it seems I was fixing, adjusting and repairing things on that plane. A few weeks later, I ran my plane straight into the ground and on another occasion into a telephone pole. One day I thought I had really learned to fly but I came in at the wrong angle for a landing and off went the wing again. I guess they had the right nickname for that plane because that dummy plane was made just for me. With a steadfast heart I never quit trying though, I never gave up, and after about a month I was flying and landing without any difficulties at all but it took a while to learn.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

It takes a while to learn how to fly but God gives us the grace we need to get back up on our feet again. I think it took me 20 to 30 attempts to finally learn how to fly without crashing my plane into the dirt, but eventually I learned. We learn through success and failure. We learn through trial and error. Just like me patching up that plane each night, it was ready to go the next day to try it again. When I think about that plane so many years ago, it reminds me of what Jesus does for each of us. God wants us to fly and he gives us innumerable amounts of Grace to get it right. How forgiving and merciful is God towards us? Listen to what he taught the Apostle Peter.

Matt 18:21-22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Because the Lord Jesus taught this to Peter, we can start to understand how forgiving God is towards us. God is filled with mercy and Grace for all those who call upon his name. He provides it so that we can get back up on our feet and try it again.

How many of you parents have had a young child who you’ve tried to teach how to ride a bike? Each time they fell down what did you do? Because you love and care for them you picked them up and put them back on the bike so they could try it again. Maybe they fell off many many times but each time you continue to pick them up. This is what God provides to us through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He gives us Grace in time of need to get back up and try it again.

There are many people in the world today who really don’t understand the depths and riches of God’s forgiveness. They don’t understand that there is Grace available so that they can try it again. God doesn’t want us to keep repenting from dead works but to go on unto perfection. That is the goal. In order to achieve that final result he gives us the grace we need.

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

Like helping your child ride the bike God wants to help us to become perfected in love. Whether true or not I don’t know, but it’s been said that Thomas Edison failed a thousand times before he finally created the light bulb. Apparently some of his teachers said he was too stupid to learn anything.

I’m glad that God has given me so much grace in my life. He picks me up each time I fall. I’m like a dummy plane that God has been working on all my life but I do know this, there is grace for me to grow, and someday I’m gonna fly.

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