Romans 5:10  “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.”

To reconcile means to restore a friendly relationship or to bring back into harmony. For example, two people may be good friends for many years, until something happens that causes a rift in their friendship. In order for that friendship to be restored, reconciliation needs to take place. They need to be brought back into harmony with each other.

You might also think of reconciliation this way: suppose that you have two people of equal height and equal weight standing on a giant balancing scale. Then someone places a large sack of flour on one of the sides, so naturally that side sinks lower and the other side rises higher. Now the two individuals are no longer at the same level, seeing eye to eye, and the only way to bring those two back onto the same level once again is to bring them back to how they once used to be.

We, because of our sin, die. Because of our sin we have been separated from the presence of God and we dwell in a place of enmity(the quality of being an enemy), but what Jesus does, what He did for us, is take our sins away and restore us back into a right relationship with the Father. He reconciles us through His death on the cross, becoming the sacrifice that we need.

Ephesians 2:16  “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”

We should follow and mimic the life of Christ, imbedding the attributes that He showed. Through His forgiveness He reconciles us to the Father. These two things are what everyone has access to through Christ, and we need to be able to show these qualities to others as well.

Speaking of Christ, Paul wrote,

Colossians 1:18-23  “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;”

Once again we read that because of our wicked works, i.e. sin, we are alienated from the heavenly Father. We no longer are “eye to eye” with Him, in a harmonious relationship with Him, and it is only through Christ that we can be reconciled, “if we continue in the faith.” 

Likewise, just as the Lord forgives and reconciles us, we need to be able to do the same. This is not a command that can be ignored. This is what the Lord Jesus wants us to do. Reconciliation is such an incredibly important and central part of our faith. Jesus talked about this in Matthew 5.

Matthew 5:22-24  “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

Even before bringing a gift to God, Jesus taught that if a brother was upset or held something against you that you needed to go and be reconciled with your brother first, before giving a gift to God. To make things right, the way that they used to be. To be filled with love.

Can you do that? Can you show what Jesus shows each and every one of us? Can you forgive, and reconcile? 

In Christ,

Andrew

When the Declaration of Independence was created, how many versions were there? Just one. Declaring the American colonist’s independence from England, it is the signing of this document that marked the birth of what is now known as the United States. But what if someone told you that there was a different document that was signed on July 4,1776? What if instead of the Declaration of Independence, they told you that it was actually something called the “The Document of Separation” or “The Dividing of Nations” that was signed. Would you believe them?

The creation of the thirteen colonies and the birth of the United States is something that every child learns at a very young age in school. We learn about the Pilgrims who came across the ocean and started the very first colonies, the disagreement between the colonies and England over the taxes of certain commodities, and the ensuing war between the two countries. We all learn this, and we all know that the name of that document that was signed is known as the Declaration of Independence. This is what we have been taught, this is what we have learned.

You will find that for nearly all questions there will be one of two answers, right or wrong. Fact or fiction. Yes or no. Something is either correct or incorrect. And the things which we learn from the Bible are no exception. 

When we learn from the Bible, everything in it is the truth. Everything in it is accurate, and it is the basis on which our faith is founded. Each word given by the inspiration of God, and what we all look to for Spiritual instruction.

So, if we read the Bible, and know what it says, we should be able to discern when someone is preaching something that is not correct according to the Bible, right?

Well in the book of Galatians, Paul was warning the church there to not be led astray by those preaching another gospel other than what they had learned.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The word of the Lord is not of one many spirits, but one. The Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that was in Christ also dwelled inside His apostles, Peter, James, John, Paul and all of the others. The same Spirit that was in Christ was the same Spirit that filled the writings that those men of God wrote, and became known as the Bible that we have today.

But it seems that not everyone preaches from the Bible today. Instead some have begun injecting their own views and teaching their own philosophy, contrary to what is found in the Holy Scripture. They teach things that go against what we have already learned from the Bible. In fact, those who did these kinds of things greatly upset the apostle Paul, as you just read earlier. “Let him be accursed” Paul said about those who perverted the gospel of Christ.

To “pervert” means to have a twisted sense of morals or values. Notice the word “twisted.” Many people today have twisted the true meaning of God’s word and have tried to change it to mean something else other than what it’s true meaning is. Instead of showing the love and forgiveness that Christ commands us to have, for example, some people will try to find any verse that they can in an effort to avoid doing just that. They will try to twist or pervert the meaning of a scripture so that it fits their lifestyle. But the Christian life doesn’t work that way. We serve the will of Christ, not ourselves.

One Lord. One faith. One baptism. One, not many. When the Bible says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He was born in Bethlehem. When it says that Jesus turned water into wine, that water was changed into wine. When it says to forgive, we need to forgive, or else we will not be forgiven. It is as simple as that.

One gospel.

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.

Have you ever been driving down the highway and then stopped by a patrolman for a burned out headlight?  Instead of giving you a fine, he graciously gave you a warning to repair it.  After filling out some paperwork on his clipboard, he gave you a fix-it ticket.  This ticket gave you an opportunity to repair the problem in a certain amount of time without any punishment.  

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

God’s grace is like a fix it ticket, because we are given the opportunity to amend and correct any issues in our lives before God’s punishment. Just as a vehicle needs to be found road worthy, we want to be found worthy at judgment day.  God gives us grace for a specific reason, so that we turn from our iniquities, and go and sin no more. When we become a Christian we need to convert from the ways that we used to live, to live the way that God wants us to live.  We need to fix the wrongs that we have done, and do what is right.  We have to repair the things that are broken so that they work properly.  This is a process that happens through genuine repentance, which is defined as the condition of being penitent and having a feeling of regret and remorse for doing what is wrong and sinning.   When these feelings are present in a person’s heart, lasting change can take place and repairs can be made.   

Luke 13:3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Sometimes in a courtroom, a judge will extend grace to an offender.  Instead of punishing them right away, they will show them mercy and give them probation for a certain amount of time, so that they can correct the error of their way.  When you amend your way, it means 

to recover, to correct, and to improve yourself.  Someone on probation is conforming themselves so that they can eventually rejoin society, living differently than the way that they used to.  Becoming a Christian is very similar.  We want to be able to enter into eternal life, but in order to do this, God gives us Grace found in His Son Jesus Christ.  He gives us a probation period here upon the Earth, giving us the grace that we need, so that we can convert and fully transform into people who are perfected and prepared for the kingdom of heaven.  In order to get all the way down the road to heaven, the broken headlight of sin must be repaired in our vessels so that we can see, and walk in the light.

1 Peter 2:9-10  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.

Think about this for a moment.  The reason for me giving you a hammer would be so that you could pound some nails.  The reason for me giving you a fishing rod would be so that you could go and catch some fish in the lake. Likewise, the reason God gives us grace is so that we turn away from sin, and change our ways.

Romans 6:1-6  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?  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Scripture warns about receiving God’s grace in vain, which means it didn’t produce the effect that it was given for in the first place; conversion, and an obedient heart towards God.

2 Corinthians 6:1  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

The Apostle Paul received God’s grace, and it changed his life drastically.

1 Corinthians 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Some people really want to believe that they’re going to heaven, but at the same time have no desire to love and obey what Christ taught.  God gives us his merciful grace so that we, through belief in His Word, can grow and mature into obedient children.

2 Peter 3:17-18  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Instead of serving sin as we did in the past, we need to correct ourselves and serve the will of God.

Hebrews 12:28-29  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

For our God is a consuming fire.

God will certainly punish sin, not only here upon the Earth, but at the final judgment.  We need to fix the problem right now, in order to avoid the punishments that are due for those who continue to neglect and disobey His will.

Jeremiah 26:13  Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

God gives us grace to become a new person.

Acts 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Convert means to transform or change from one use, function, or purpose to another.  Without lasting conversion, people won’t be able to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

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.

This is why the disciples preached to repent and turn from sin. It is the path that leads to salvation and eternal life.

Acts 26:20  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

We are given verbal warnings in the scriptures about the punishments for living in sin, but like a repair ticket, God grants each of us a gift of His grace.  He is watching to see who takes advantage of His incredible gift, and uses the opportunity to seize the moment and repair the things that are wrong in their lives.  It all depends on your response to His grace, and if you will use God’s Divine reprieve, to go and take care of any problems.  Will you make it right? Will you choose to…..

…..Fix It?

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, but before we do that I wanted to share something with you.

When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to do something really fun with some friends over summer vacation.  I got to go on a 10 day bike trip across Northern Minnesota.  It was an absolutely beautiful summer, and we got to do a lot of camping which is something that I really enjoy.  Each and every morning we got up early, packed up our belongings, and began to pedal another fifty miles down the road.  If we didn’t continue steadfastly each and every day, we would never have gotten to our final destination.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

In order to arrive at our final destination and enter into eternal life, we must continue to abide in God’s Holy Word.  Each and every day we need to continue steadfastly in the teachings and doctrines contained in the New Testament of Christ.

John 8:31-32  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.

In order to be a follower of Jesus Christ, if requires following the things that He teaches.  To be a disciple of Christ, it requires discipline, getting up each day and continuing to do the will of God.  “Continue” is defined in the dictionary as to proceed and prolong a certain activity, or to resume, stay and abide.  The Christian life is like a race that you run each and every day without stopping, until you step across the finish line at judgement day.  Sadly there will be some people who begin the Christian Life but never complete the race.  Whatever the reason may be, they simply give up, throw in the towel and quit.  Some don’t want to suffer and be persecuted.  Some love the world so much that they simply can’t let it go.  

Matthew 13:20-22  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

The true disciple of Jesus must cross the finish line and win the race. This requires counting the cost before you attempt it.  You are either all the way in, or all the way out.

Luke 14:28-32  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?   Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.  

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

Abide means to remain or to conform to the rules.  It means to accept wholeheartedly without objection.  Christians are called to conform and transform through belief and application of scriptural truth.  How can someone profess to be a Christian yet completely reject the teachings of the Christian Church?  How can you be a follower of Jesus and not follow the things He taught?  This is not being freed from sins, its living in them. People want to believe that they’re going to heaven, yet reject the teachings of the one who died on the cross to get us there.  That is certainly not love for our precious Lord who bled for us. Those who choose to live in sin, will reap the wages of sin.  Without repentance and submission to the will of God, faith is not existent.

2 John 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Christianity is more than getting baptized or accepting Jesus as your Savior.  It is a day by day walk of obedience and yielding your will to His.  It is about denying yourself and what you want out of this life, to become what God wants you to be.  He must be come greater, and we must be come lesser.

1 John 2:24  Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

Just like an infant needs milk to grow into maturity, we need to continue to grow in God’s Word each day, maturing into the person He wants us to become.  We need to hear it, believe it, and do it, in order to obtain a blessing from God.

Luke 11:27-28  And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.  But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

James 1:25  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.

The dictionary defines a disciple as somebody who learns from another, and an active follower and adherent of their doctrines.  When you disciple others it means to convert, train, educate and teach them.  To be a disciple of Jesus you must adhere to the things that He teaches which means to be joined together in beliefs and principals.  It also means to walk in accordance with and to agree.

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

In order for our lives to be purified from sin, we must become sanctified by the application of biblical truth.  No education, no application: no application, no sanctification.

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

2 Thessalonians 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

If you’re not going to believe it, and ultimately do what it says, it’s obvious that you won’t be purified from anything.  

1 Timothy 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Salvation depends on walking day by day in obedience to the truth of God’s Word.  Each day is another chapter in our book, as we live faithfully for Christ.  It is a story of submission, a story in progress, and a story……

…….To Be Continued

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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Have you ever noticed that some people only act a certain way when they know that they are being watched?

I can relate to this. Going back years ago, I can remember sitting in a classroom at school along with all of my peers. On occasion, the teacher would have to leave the classroom to go and get something for a few minutes, and they would always tell us to stay in our seats and not get into any trouble; to behave ourselves until they got back. But everyone knows what happens after the teacher leaves. The very second that students are left by themselves, paper airplanes will begin to soar across the room, kids will start racing around the desks, hair might be pulled, etc. It will be only when they hear the incoming footsteps of the returning teacher that they will scramble back into their seats and try to appear that they had been sitting there the entire time.

But that isn’t true obedience. That is eye service, only obeying when someone is watching.

To obey means to do as ordered, or to act according to the bidding of someone.

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

Paul had praised the Philippians because they were obedient both when he was there and also when he wasn’t. They were truly obedient. It didn’t matter if Paul was there watching over them, they were just as obedient to God’s word when he had left.

The Apostles and disciples of the Lord, when Jesus left to go back to be with His Father, they continued in the teachings in which He had instructed them. They didn’t need to have someone to stand at their side telling them what they needed to do. They didn’t need to have someone come and check on them every day to see if they were getting the things done that they had been told to do. They knew it in their hearts and they did it.

When Paul sent Timothy to go preach, he could have peace of mind knowing that Timothy was going to get done what he had been sent out to do. Timothy wasn’t a man who needed to be held by the hand to make sure that he had kept up on his task. He was self motivated and knew his calling. And that was Paul’s wish for everyone in the church. He wanted the people to be obedient to the Lord’s command, whether or not they were being watched or not.

Similarly, someone can go to church every Sunday for years and years, but it is just a religious thing for them. They might not really believe fully in their hearts, just going to have the appearance of holiness and goodness, and then they live the next six days however they want. Then Sunday comes around once again and they dress up nice, and sit in the pew, having a show of godliness, but the rest of the week “in works they deny Him.”

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.”

Always remember that God sees everything that we do. Those close to us and those around us may not know what we do while we are alone, but God does. He knows if we are obedient or not, He knows the state of our hearts. 

So which kind of person are you? Are you like one of those children who get up as soon as the teacher leaves, or are you one who does what you are told, even when no one is watching? Because Someone is always watching.

In Christ,

Andrew

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

2 Corinthians 6:14-18  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Let’s start at the beginning of this passage.

.,…..Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers

When two things are unequal, they are not the same.  They are different from each other.  A fish is not the same as a cat.  A bear is not the same as a bird.  There are people who believe in Christ and His teachings, and those who don’t.  There are people who obey Jesus, and those who won’t.

2 Thessalonians 3:2  ……. for all men have not faith.

You’re not supposed to join up and surround yourself with people who have no desire to serve and obey Jesus.  You can tell who they are by their response to biblical truth.  If they won’t hear God’s Word, they are certainly not of God.  To join means to come into the company of, or to unite together in a very close relationship with them.  The people that you want to spend the majority of your time with while you’re upon the Earth, are those who want to obey Christ and do His will.  True friendship must be centered on faith and believe in God’s Word.  

Proverbs 27:17  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

We must all be United together in scriptural truth.

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

………….for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

To fellowship is to share close relationships with others who share the same interests that you do.  Obviously we may make mistakes in our Christian walk, and we can receive forgiveness from God and each other in the church, but you don’t want to share company with the impenitent.  To have relationships with people who have no desire to do God’s will, is opening up a door to harmful influences and bad associations.    

And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

Someone who is an infidel shows infidelity.  Just like a wife who is unfaithful to their life-long commitment to their marriage. When someone is an infidel towards Jesus, it means that they are unfaithful in their relationship with Him.  They are stubborn and stiffnecked, refusing to obey the things He commanded and taught. A true believer and follower of Jesus will eagerly desire to do the will of God.  You shouldn’t share relationships with people of false religions either.  Some people who profess Christianity have began to learn the ways of the heathen, even getting involved with martial arts and other philosophies and teachings that have come directly out of false religions.  This is very offensive to God.  Solomon got involved with false religion and it upset God greatly.  It’s like committing adultery against Him.

1 Corinthians 10:22  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

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.

In order to become a friend of Jesus, we need to obey Him.  In order for Him to receive us and become a Father for us, there is something that we need to do first.  We must willingly come out from among this group of people, and be separate from them.  When we do this, He promises that He will receive us.  What you are doing is choosing what side you want to be on.  You either love Him, or the world.  Our actions of separating from the world are the proof that we are His sons of daughters.

…………Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

When I became a believer in Christ, I wanted to claim this promise from God.  I have lived in some huge cities and worked all over the country in places with massive populations, but things changed when God gave me the gift of faith.  I eventually ended up living in the least populated county in the state of Minnesota, outside of a town of less than 200 inhabitants.  I built a small cabin in the woods for my family that was completely away from the world, sheltering my children from all the dangers and influences it has on our souls.

Lot was called to come out of the world and be separate.  God was going to destroy Sodom and Gommorah, so he took his wife and family and left.  His wife didn’t want to leave the city behind, and turned back to return, but she herself was also destroyed by God.  She loved the world more than God.  Those who choose to return to the world that we are called out of, are not worthy of God. Those who separate themselves, but then look back, are not fit for the kingdom of God.

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.

Some of Paul’s disciples loved the world more than Christ, and returned back to it.

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.

Noah came out from the world to be separate, spending his time building an ark to save his household.  He led his family, keeping them away from the wickedness of the world that would soon be completely destroyed.  Moses also came out from the world to be separate, turning away from everything that Egypt could offer him to go live in the desert in seclusion.  John the Baptist lived out in the wilderness as well, keeping separate.  The Apostle John taught a woman to keep separate from the world in her own home.

2 John 1:9-11  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

These people were not abiding in Christ’s teachings. Because the Apostle warned this woman not to receive them into her home, do you really think she would have taken her children into town to have fun alongside the impenitent?  Do you really think that she would have associated her family with these people out in the world, when she had already been commanded not to allow them into her own home?  Of course not.

So, today I ask you,….who do you spend a lot a time with during your day? Are they people who sincerely believe in Jesus? Do they fear God? Are they people who want to obey His Word? Be very careful who you hang out with.  If you really want God to be a Father unto you, if you truly want to be a son or daughter of His, you need to listen and obey Him as a Father when He commands us to come out from the world, and be separate.  Its at that point that we truly can become…..

….. His Children.

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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There are three main things that each person needs to have on a regular basis in order to keep your body alive. They are food, water, and air. These three things are what nourish, hydrate, and oxygenate the body so that you can continue to do what you normally do. But for some people, they feel like they just cannot go a single day without food, much less just skipping a single meal. 

Question: what is it that separates or defines a Christian apart from the world? Our love for Christ and our desire to please, obey, and serve Him. As our God, Jesus is Who our lives need to be centered on, and we should seek to honor Him through our actions. We should seek to show our love to Him. And one way we can do this is through fasting.

Most often when referring to the word “fast” in the Bible, it is referring to the abstaining from the eating of food, for however long of a time. Having the ability to skip a meal or two, or a day or two. While love is rather a strong way to put it, I would say that most of us really enjoy eating a good meal, whatever it may be. I bet that when a certain holiday or other special day rolls around you will most likely be a partaker of some really good food. Well if someone wants to show the Lord how much they love Him, what better way than to give up something that you really enjoy for a period of time? 

While fasting is generally thought of as just abstaining from the eating of food, you can also give up other things to show your love for the Lord. What are some things that you like to do? For certain people they may like to go on a daily motorcycle ride out in the country, and it is just something that they really like to do. There is nothing wrong with that, but you could one day skip your ride and in the time that you would have spent riding you could use that time to pray to the Lord, or sing some songs to Him, or spend time reading the Word. If we are able to give up the things which we love for Christ, it shows that He is the most important thing in our life. That we love Him more.

The Bible tells us about a certain woman in the Bible, named Anna, who was an elderly woman, and she had dedicated her life to God, frequently spending time fasting and praying to the Lord, she loved the Lord so much.

Luke 2:36-37  “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”

When someone decides to have a fast for the Lord, the act of fasting should be, as I said, because of your love for Jesus, but some people do it for a different motive. Jesus had some strong rebukes for the Pharisees because some of them were fasting, but they weren’t fasting because they loved God, they were only doing it because they wanted others to see them fasting, in a show of self righteousness. They wanted the praise of men, to appear holy. But they weren’t like that in their hearts. 

When we fast, Jesus taught that it should be done in a way that is not apparent to others around you, because your fast is a special thing between you and the Heavenly Father. It is a gift and a show of love and dedication for Him, not others.

Matthew 6:16-18  “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.

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

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

When we fast, it shows that we can give up an important part of our daily life for the Lord. For some people, though, food is their god, and they can’t or won’t give up eating even for a short amount of time, it has such a tight hold on them. They forget where that food ultimately came from. It came from God.

Philippians 3:18-19  “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”

The next time you fast for Jesus, remember Who it is that you are doing it for. Remember why you are doing it, and keep it between you and Him.

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, Andrew and I have been involved in hauling scrap iron and recycling other non-ferrous metal, such as copper, aluminum etc.  We’ve cut up some pretty big items,  everything from semi trailers, trailer houses, farm equipment, and other heavy machinery.  I have a good cutting torch that requires oxygen mixed with propane to cut through the iron quickly.  From what I’ve been told, steel generally will melt around $2,500°. When the flame is tweaked just right, my torch cuts at about 5,000°. If you eventually run out of oxygen, you can no longer cut with the torch. You have to have oxygen in the mix for it to produce a super hot flame.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

You can own a cutting torch, but in order for it to work properly, you must have oxygen mixed with the propane.  You can profess to have faith in Jesus, but in order to light the torch inside of our hearts, our lives must be mixed with the oxygen of works, which gives the breath that is needed to ignight the burning flame of faith.

James 2:17-26  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  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.  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Works are so important in a Christian Life, that without the manifestation of them, faith is dead, just like a torch without oxygen.  For any of us to be alive physically, we must have oxygen.  When you go fishing, and put your catch on the bottom of the boat, they eventually die because they need the oxygen that’s in the water.  When a scuba diver dives into the ocean, they too need a tank of oxygen because without it they cannot survive.  Our faith is very similar because you need works in order to survive and enter someday into the kingdom of heaven.  Faith without works is dead.  It cannot survive without them.  Works have to be combined with our faith in order for our faith to be complete.

………..Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Have you ever been alone before?  Have you ever walked on a dirt road all by yourself?  Have you ever come home after school and the house was completely empty because nobody else was there? Have you ever gone fishing on a lake but you couldn’t see another boat anywhere on the water?  Alone means all by itself.  It was just you. Just by professing to have faith in Jesus, by itself, is not enough to attain heaven.  It’s like an animal that you might find in the woods, but it’s no longer breathing and completely inactive.  It may look like a deer, but the truth is it’s dead.  It’s no longer alive.   

……..Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

How can I possibly see your new car if you don’t show it to me?  How can I possibly see the batch of cookies that you made if you don’t show them to me?  How can I possibly see your perfect report card if you don’t show it to me? Faith is something that others can see, by the actions and the works that you are involved with. Genuine faith will have the evidence of works to back it up.

……..Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Just claiming that you believe in God is not enough, because the devils do the same.  What sets you apart from others, is possessing works that others can see.  They are the proof of faith, because without them, faith is lifeless and dead.

………….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.

Scriptures teach us that we are justified by faith, (Rom 5:1), but one must understand what real faith truly is.  It must possess works in order to be justified.  We are saved by grace through faith, (Eph 2:8) but again, you must understand what real faith is. Faith must possess works, otherwise it says dead as a piece of scrap iron.  We are justified by our faithful works of obedience, loyalty, and love towards His name, otherwise real faith does not exist.  You can claim Christianity, but miss out on paradise because you choose not to do His will.

Luke 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Real faith results in becoming a doer of God’s Word.

James 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Faith will produce results of some sort, results that people can visually see.

………..Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

How can you show somebody your faith, if you don’t have any evidence to back it up? Where are the activities that show what you believe?   Noah believed in God so much that he spent a lot of his life building a giant ship to save his family from the flood.  He was justified by works, because without that ark, they would have all perished.  Think about the people screaming to want to get on the ark when the flood came, but it was too late and the door was shut.  It will be the same at judgement day.  People will be screaming to get in, but they will be denied entrance, because the faith that they professed while they were here upon the Earth, wasn’t faith at all.  It wasn’t a sincere faith that led to obedience to Christ.  It was a dead faith that wasn’t fueled with the oxygen of works, because of which, the flame of faith never truly lit, just like my…….

……..My Cutting Torch

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♥️

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.

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Mark 3:28-29  Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

Today, we see going to study about what blasphemy is. Jumping right into it, blasphemy is defined in the dictionary as irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable; the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence towards God. 

While clearly not anywhere near on the same level as blasphemy towards God, there are certain “unspoken” laws in the United States that people are supposed to follow. One such example is that during the National Anthem generally people are asked to rise and remove any kind of hat that they are wearing, in a show of reverence, respect, and honor. To refuse to do so, if asked, is often viewed as disrespectful, irreverent act. Like I said, it is no where near and cannot compare towards blasphemy towards God, because it is a flag, and not the Lord of all things, but you see what I mean.

In the book of Mark, chapter 3, some of the Jewish scribes attributed, or credited the works that Christ did to the devil, which is a blasphemous statement.

Mark 3:22-30  “And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.”

Jesus had been casting devils out of people, yet there scribes, instead of giving praise to God, said that Jesus was filled with the spirit of the devil! That is just crazy to even think about, to think that such an incredible thing had been done right before them, yet they said such a blasphemous things about Christ.

To take something that is good and holy and to call it evil– that is what blasphemy is. If someone is doing what God’s will is for them, by believing completely in His word and living their lives for Him in a just and holy manner–to call that person sick or evil, or to say that they are “of the devil”– that is completely irreverent towards Christ. Here someone is trying to honor Christ through their life and someone calls it evil. That is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

This is an area to which you do not want to ever go to. To blaspheme against the Holy Ghost is to bring eternal damnation upon yourself, and you will put yourself in a place where you cannot receive forgiveness. It is this (blaspheming the Holy Ghost) and refusing to forgive another that are the two things where I have found that there is no forgiveness for. Please, never put yourself in that position.

In Christ,

Andrew

Goodmorning and welcome in everyone.  Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from 1 John.

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.

Many people today claim Christianity as their faith, professing to know Jesus.  But the Apostle John teaches the proof of knowing the Lord, it’s by keeping His commandments.  A commandment is something that must be obeyed.  Many people simply think of the Ten commandments from the Old Testament, but there are numerous commands by the Lord to be followed in the New Testament.  There are doctrines and teachings of the Christian Church that were handed down and taught by the original disciples.  We prove our love towards Jesus by our obedient lives towards Him.

John 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

We can show somebody who has authority over us that we love them, by obeying them.  As a parent, doesn’t it please you when a child obeys you?   A child shows love towards their dad by listening and doing what he commands.  A wife shows love towards her husband by obeying him in everything.  These places of authority have been created by God and for his purposes.  We show our love for Christ, by becoming obedient children, and doing His will.  The greatest commandment is to love God, and we do this through our obedient lives towards Him.

Matthew 22:37-38  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.

Jesus always does the perfect will of God as an example of how we are supposed to live.  He always pleases the heavenly Father perfectly.

Matthew 3:17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

To abide in Christ’s love, we must keep His commandments.

John 15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

We need to become born again through faithful obedience to the Word of God.  To abide in Scripture means to conform and obey the rules, accepting them without objection.

1 Peter 1:23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Those who rebelliously refuse to conform to the doctrine of Christ, don’t have God.

2 John 1:9. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Again I asked you parents, if your children choose to disobey you, do you jump up and down with joy? Of course not.  It makes you upset.  So we learn that when we serve and obey those in authority in our own household, it shows that you love them.  In order to show God how much we love Him, we need to obey Him too, and keep His Word.

John 14:21  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.

God loved the world by sending Jesus to save us, but in order to enter into eternal life, we need to prove our love towards Him, by humbly submitting to His will.  An Earthly marriage is very symbolic to the relationship between the church and Jesus Christ.  As the church is subject to Jesus, wives need to submit and obey their husbands in everything, because if obedience doesn’t happen, love does not exist; not for her husband, and certainly not for the Lord Jesus.  To remain in Christ’s love, we need to do His will. 

John 14:23-24  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.

When people refuse to lovingly serve and obey Jesus, they will end up being cursed.

1 Corinthians 16:22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

When someone claims to be a follower of Jesus, it means to obey the things He teaches.  Disobedience doesn’t please anybody who is in a place of authority.  God’s Word is capable of saving our souls, only if we become doers of it.  God blesses those who possess an obedient heart.

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.

We perfect our love towards God by keeping His Word.  His commandments are certainly not painful to obey.

1 John 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

A commandment is an authoritative order to do, or not to do something. As I’ve said numerous times, when I was young, people told me that I couldn’t get to heaven by keeping commandments. But scripturally, if you won’t keep His commandments, you’re a liar.  If you refuse to do so, you will miss out on Paradise.  It’s more than professing to be a Christian. It’s more than sitting in a church service somewhere. It is about doing the will of God from the heart.

1 Peter 1:13-14  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

Remember that obedience and faithfulness to God’s Word, shows God how much you truly love him.  God grants us a precious gift of Grace so that we can transform from a sinner, into a saint.  This change is required in order to enter into eternal life.  Heaven is going to be a perfect sinless place, this is why we need to put off sins of the flesh right now, and prepare ourselves for the world that’s coming.  Jesus died on the cross to take our sins away, and we can return His great love by living each day for him in perfect obedience.

John 15:14  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Keeping his commands is the proof of…….

…….Knowing Jesus

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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