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 certain things that people speak about with others in secret.  They do it behind their back and in dark places.  Numerous people came out to hear Jesus preach, but some were only there to try to find something disparaging against him.  They wanted to find anything that came out of His mouth, so that they could somehow use it against him.  They quietly whispered and talked about Him, even conspiring how they could take Him and kill him.  A whisperer is a backbiter, who speaks evil about someone else.  Its a sin that is just as bad as murder, because somebody tries to destroy the reputation and life of another, by using their forked and wicked tongue.  Eventually, all of these secret conversations are going to be revealed, both here on Earth, and in the world to come.

Luke 12:2-3  For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.  Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

When Andrew was about 3 years old, we were sitting at the kitchen table, and he said ” God sees everything.” Even at such a young age, this scripture was revealed in his heart.  God sees when we pray to Him secretly, but He also sees the evil and malicious things that people speak about others privately.  They will eventually be exposed, its only a matter of time.  This is how they quietly spoke about Jesus.

Matthew 26:3-4  Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

Our blessed Lord Jesus warned about this behavior.

Matthew 12:36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Whisperers don’t love others, they hate them.

Psalms 41:7  All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

A whisperer is another name for a busybody; which is someone who gets involved with or interjects themselves into another mans household, or the private or intimate matters of others.  Modern terminology might refer to them as an intervenor.  God has ordained places of authority in this world, including Pontious Pilate to whom Jesus was brought to, but a husband has direct, absolute and complete authority over his wife and children.  He has great power and authority, because God has ordered and ordained him to this place of responsibility.  One must never get involved or usurp over the authority figure in a family, because He has been placed there by God.  He might not have a crown, or title of president or king, but a dad over his family needs to be revered and feared.  Without this kind of respect, I guarantee you that God will certainly intervene on his behalf. I genuinely and kindly emplore you, don’t get involved as a busy body.

Hebrews 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Jesus is the highest authority and head over all, and before Him every knee will bow, but many people continue to hate places of authority that He Himself ordained.  Women hate the authority of their husband, and children may hate the authority of their dad.  Others hate the authority of a judge or the the authority of a sheriff.  Others speak evil and hate the king of their country.  Why?  People don’t like authority.  Clearly, not all people in places authority are going to do justice, but we certainly must pray for them.  We must pray daily for them, and for justice, because their duties are very serious for the structure of our society.  They are never to be condemned, but respected and understood for the position that God has placed them in.  Even as a parent we can all be immature, but whether a dad or a King, we are all the same in the eyes of God, each of us are sinners who need God’s grace, and we all need to accept truth.  

The main issue that we are talking about today, is that they were saying malicious things about Christ because they hated him.  He spoke with authority and people didn’t like that.  Years ago, a friend of mine was a sheriff, but told me that no matter how gentle you were with some people, they continue to resist.  No matter how nice you were to them, they would speak evil about you to everyone. When it comes down to down to it, I guess thats the way we all are.  All of us are sinners who need to believe the truth in Christ.  If we can just show the goodness of Christ to others, there is hope that some will repent.

John 7:11-13  Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?

And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.  Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

A busybody is somebody who interferes in the matter of another man’s household. They get involved with things that are intrusive and meddlesome.  Jezebel was this kind of a woman, who got herself involved in the lives of others but God paid her back.  She was busy body, getting involved with things there were none of her business.  Rather than obtaining a peaceful death, she was eaten by dogs.  Earthly justice and eternal damnation was what awaited her.

A whisperer is a tattler.  This is a person who talks and gossip about other people.  They  report incriminating information about another person, or a person’s wrongdoing.  To make it very short and simple, a tattler tells on somebody elses activities.  Judas did the same thing and tattled to the authorities. Nowadays the same people would be called a narc or a whistle blower.  A gossip is somebody who talks about others private or personal business. Speaking evil about somebody else is just as bad as murder in the scriptures.  It’s really sad that people can’t seem to find anything better to do with their life.  They’re are cruel and bitter fault finders, only ruining their own lives and their hope of eternal salvation at Judgment Day. These women are spoken of in scripture.

1 Timothy 5:11-13  But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;  Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.  And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

Damnation will be the final result of those who choose to live the life of a…..

…Whisperer

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

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 1992, about 1.5 miles Southwest of the village of Hoxne in Suffolk England, Peter Watling found something that I’m sure he will never forget.  He was a farmer who had lost his hammer and while he and a friend were searching for it, they discovered some items of value that they reported to the authorities. One day later, the entire horde of Earthly riches that they had stumbled across was excavated, some of which are now kept in the British museum in London.  He discovered over 14,000 gold, silver and bronze coins that apparently are over 1500 years old.  Along with them were silver tableware, the entirety being valued at 1.75 million dollars. Oh, and lest I forget, the archaeologists did find his hammer, as well!

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

People find treasure every day.  People win the lottery, or receive a windfall, but of all the things that you could ever attain, there is no greater treasure that I have ever received in my life, then the gift of grace in the blood of Christ.  No matter how much in this world someone could possess, nothing can ever compare to what Jesus did for us at the cross.  I would choose to be penniless the rest of my life, just to have a thimbleful of His mercy.

Matthew 13:44-46  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

What is one of the greatest items that you have ever found in your life?  People will search many years for a certain collectable antique, or a certain part for an old car, but any worldly item can never compare to God’s grace.  Moses turned away from all the riches of Egypt to attain the Spiritual riches found in Christ.  

Hebrews 11:24-28  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

Each and every day, people try to attain more possessions and Earthly wealth, but the true and everlasting riches are found in God’s mercy.

Ephesians 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephesians 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

You cannot serve both God and mammon.  

Luke 16:9-13  And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.  If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?  And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?  No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The desire for worldly riches only takes your eyes off spiritual riches.  This is why the love of money is the root of all evil, because it destroys our pure love for God.

Matthew 19:16-24  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?  

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

There is more to life than Earthly gain.  

Luke 12:15-21  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

So today I ask you, what is your treasure?  Think of everything that Moses let go of, in order to have a closer relationship with God.  It’s quite obvious that his love for God was greater than anything that you could ever find buried in…..

……The Hoxne Hoard

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.♥️

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Matthew 7:12  “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

What kind of things do you like to have done to you? How do you like to be treated by others? These are questions that we all should know the answers to. 

If you have two cookies, and you see someone who didn’t get any, what would you like someone to do to you? Obviously to give the other person one of yours. If you don’t like it when someone slaps you in the face, then it is only right that you don’t do that to others. This is called treating others in the way that you would want to be treated, and in the end, it is love as well.

Love is the end of the commandment, Jesus taught. To treat others as you would want to be treated is exactly how Jesus lived and taught His apostles to live. Not just to those you are close to, such as your close friends and family, but to treat everyone with this same kind of love. To “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Luke 10:25-37  “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 

And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”

When Jesus died on the cross, whose sins did He die for? Just the sins of His disciples and followers? No, he died for the sins of everybody, the entire world. He showed everyone, good and bad, the same treatment. Those who may have sinned only a couple times and those who might have sinned hundreds each are the recipient of Christ’s love. Jews, Gentiles, black, white, male, female–all are treated the same by Christ, and we need to follow that example and apply it in our lives.

Don’t want someone to steal from you? Don’t steal from others. Do you want others to spread false rumors about you? If not, then act accordingly. As we read about the Good Samaritan, our neighbor is not just those who live next door, but are everyone we meet. The grocer at the store. Your banker. Friends and family. The homeless man down the street. Whoever it is doesn’t matter, made sure that you treat them all the same, with love. Treat your neighbor as yourself.

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.

When I was in the second grade, there was a boy that a lot of us knew from school.  He used to bring a giant cigar box to school in his backpack.  Whether he was in gym class or at lunch, as soon as the teacher disappeared from view, he would open up his box.  Inside he had a bunch of school supplies such as fancy pencils, pens, and some really big erasers.  In my life I always liked big erasers that fit snugly on top of a pencil, so I was quite his customer. Big erasers were perfect for someone like me.  I needed big erasers to undo the many mistakes that I so frequently made.

This reminds me of the Christian life.

It has been claimed that the more mistakes that you make in life, the bigger eraser you will need.  I eventually found the biggest eraser that I could ever possess, that was completely free.  I found it in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

God’s grace is an incredible gift. When we confess our faults, He completely absolves them from His memory, and doesn’t even discuss them anymore.  Like a blackboard, the slate is wiped completely clean.  He does this so that we can eventually obey Him and do what is right.  Many people like to paint or sketch with a pencil, but if you make a mistake you can paint right over them.  God’s grace is like a recording artist in the studio, who fails miserably on one of their takes on a solo, but the producer simply starts again, recording over their many failed attempts, until they finally get it right.  When God forgives, He completely forgets the past.  There are many people who profess Christianity who claim to forgive, but it’s only words because they refuse to forget.  The one main issue with that, is that you cannot claim to be a Christian anymore. If you cannot forgive others from the heart and forget their past misdeeds, God will not forgive you.  They may appear religious on the exterior, but are cloaked in a coat of bitterness.  Bitterness results from somebody who refuses to forgive an apologetic offender, and then their heart becomes defiled.  They reject genuine reconciliation, which is as much of a part of forgiveness, just as water is needed to make kool-aid.  

Romans 3:14  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Hebrews 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Many people who are not truly spiritual, perceive the story of the prodigal son as a relationship with Earthly relatives, while the true meaning behind the parable is meant to teach us about our own sinfulness, and returning to our relationship with God the Father.  It teaches the three main points of the Christian Life, confession, absolution, and complete reconciliation.  My children and family have always understood how much I love this parable.   

Luke 15:11-25  And he said, A certain man had two sons:  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

And he arose, and came to his father. 

But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.  Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

God forgives and forgets, just as it teaches in this parable of the prodigal son.  When you truly forgive someone, it means to not remember their faults anymore, just as the father did toward his son.  True forgiveness results in reconciliation, as the story illustrates.  Without reconciliation, forgiveness never really happened. If you ever hear someone who professes to be a Christian, but claims reconciliation is not required with others, they are a liar and rejecting the Christian Life. Refusal to reconcile will result in damnation because they openly reject the ministry of reconciliation commanded by the teachings of Christ.  Holding these beliefs also shows that they are heretical.

2 Corinthians 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Sadly, some people are not going to be forgiven by God because of their refusal to forgive others.  I’m sure many of them will be those who professed to be Christian. I’ve always taught Andrew and my family that non-reconciliation is an unforgivable sin, because it goes against everything that Christ stands for, divine love. 

Matthew 6:14-15  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

God does not forgive everybody.  Forgiveness is withheld from God for those who refuse to forgive in the church.  When somebody apologizes, and you have Holy Communion with them, but you continue to bear a grudge against the penitent sinner, you sin against the blood of Christ.  When you do so, you drink damnation unto yourself. I’m very thankful each and every day for God’s mercy and forgiveness. Whenever I need grace, I know that I can come boldly to him.  I know that if I’m forgiving with others that God will be forgiving with me.  I like that, because I have always needed a lot of mercy. I’ve known that, ever since the day that I reached deep down inside..

…..The Cigar Box

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

Do you collect anything? Coins, sports memorabilia, old books or antiques? What would you consider the greatest, rarest, or most valuable thing that you could add to your collection, and to what lengths would you go to attain it?

I used to collect a certain Lego-ish type of set many years ago. If I remember correctly, there were about 7 or 8 individual sets in the collection and I had set my goal to acquire all of them. But as a seven year old me, my supply of money was rather limited, so for me to get the seven dollars and fifty cents that I needed to get a new Lego set, it took me a little while to collect. I might take some of my other toys to school and sell them to my friends, trade for things and then exchange them for cash, or I would scour the underneath of the car seats for loose change, until, at long last, I had enough to buy my set.

Set by set my collection grew, until I only had one more to get to have them all. But I couldn’t find it. Everywhere that I looked, each store that I checked, none of them had the last set that I needed. They had all of the other ones, but not that last one. In fact, I had almost given up hope that I would ever find one, until one day I was walking down a different aisle in a store and I found the last one I needed.

And while that last set was the same price as all of the others, I would have probably spent three times as much just to have them all, and this story is like the example that Jesus used in Matthew 13.

Matthew 13:44-46  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

The kingdom of heaven is a treasure of the highest value, of which we all should seek to obtain, regardless of the cost. To obtain it, we need to be able to give up things. We need to be able to deny ourselves the things which we otherwise may not want to give up, but we do, knowing that the reward for doing so is far greater than anything else.

That is the question that each person needs to ask themselves. “How much is the kingdom of heaven worth?” Could you give up the things which you own, and sell them all for Christ? Could you give it all away? 

Matthew 19:16-22  “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”

Do you see what was first in this man’s life? Do you see where his love was placed? For this man, the possessions in the world were more important to him than the things of God. They had such a hold on him that, even with the promise of eternal life, he couldn’t give them up. His treasures were his money and things that he owned, but a Christian’s treasure is in Heaven.

Matthew 6:21  “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

So once again, what is the kingdom of Heaven worth to you? Can you give up everything to follow Christ? Can you make that great exchange?

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.

I remember an old teaching from school, that learning doesn’t happen by osmosis.  What I mean by that, is you can’t put a book underneath your pillow at night and expect that somehow the information is going to transfer into your brain as you sleep.  We learn things by hearing them taught by others, and Jesus was pouring all of his wisdom into His young apprentices.  Wherever He went, He was close by, constantly helping them to grown in their faith and handing down His knowledge freely to His followers.

But who did Jesus call as His original disciples?

Many times people can be very judgemental because they see a person God is using, who really doesn’t fit there own criteria.  They don’t wear the right kind of clothes, or don’t brush their teeth often.  If they had to go in for an interview, most people wouldn’t even sit down with them and give them the courtesy of their time.  But knowledge and wisdom from God’s Word doesn’t require a three piece suit.  Instead of choosing religious leaders of the day, Jesus hand picked a publican and some fisherman.  He picked everyday common people that you could relate to, who came from the simple life.  These were men who weren’t overly puffed up with education, whom He could pour His divine knowledge into.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29  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:  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

The men Jesus picked didn’t have divinity degrees.  They didn’t have plaques of ordination or a certificate to hang behind their desk.  Their office was a fishing boat, where they listened each day as Jesus taught them, learning from the Master.  They were apostles in training, preparing for the day that they would pick up the torch for Christ.  People were shocked at how much knowledge and wisdom that they possessed.

Acts 4:13  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Many Jews were offended at how much knowledge that Jesus was filled with.

John 7:14-17  Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.  And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Steven was another man of God who was so full of God’s wisdom that they couldn’t even resist what he said.

Acts 6:8-10  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.  Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.  And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

There really are only two forms of wisdom, wisdom that comes from this world, and the wisdom that comes from God.  Worldly wisdom will fade away, while God’s wisdom its eternal. 

1 Corinthians 2:4-8  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

God’s wants to give us His wisdom, but we need to ask for it in faith.

James 1:5-6  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

The Apostle Paul was filled with God’s wisdom, but referred to himself as the chief of sinners.  All of us have sinned foolishly and come short of the glory of God, but God chooses foolish sinners, to confound those who are wise.  Wisdom of the world is foolishness in God’s sight.

1 Corinthians 1:19-21  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.

In the world people like to choose the powerful and the strong to lead, yet Jesus calls the meek and lowly.  He chooses people who are hated, and lifts them up over the proudhearted.

1 Corinthians 1:19-21  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 were in charge of hiring for a company, the criteria for employment in the world is quite different than what you will find with the Lord Jesus.  He hires and chooses sinners.  He picks the ones who seem unacceptable in the eyes of the world.  

Matthew 9:10-13  And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?  But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Look at the man the Jesus chose to lead His church.  Peter understood that he was a sinner, which is the very first step in beginning a relationship with Christ.

Luke 5:8  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

God chooses wretched sinners as Apostles to preach.  Are you one?  Are you ready to listen and learn?  I guarantee you that it’s going to take more than just….

……Osmosis

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

One year I planted something known as a tomatillo in my garden. I had never seen this kind of fruit before, but it looked interesting so I decided to give it a try. They grew similar to my tomato plants, and the fruits when mature looked like a yellow or green tomato wrapped in a leafy husk.

The handful of plants that I grew that year grew well and I received many fruits for my labor. They did have a different taste to them though, so I decided not to grow them the next year. But the next spring, growing just on the edge of the garden, do you know what I found? Tomatillo plants. I guess I must have thrown some old, rotten tomatillos into the garden and they grew into some new plants, so I decided to leave them alone and let them grow themselves. 

Five years later, I would still find new tomatillo plants growing wild around outside of the garden, and each year I could continue to reap the rewards from those first few plants.

I guess the lesson here is that you reap what you sow. When you sow fruits or vegetables, that is what you get back. If you are going to sow spiritual things, and help others to hear about the word of God, then you will receive your spiritual reward.

Galatians 6:7-9  “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

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

You know, when Paul preached to others the truth found in Christ, sowing those seeds of faith into hearts, he didn’t see all of those seeds grow and mature in his lifetime. He started many churches and preached to many people, but the bulk of Paul’s fruit has come over the last 2,000 years. Like the tomatillo plants in my garden, Paul’s reward for the seeds that he had sown continue to still grow each day. As each year goes by, his letters and teachings will be read by more and more people, as more and more seeds become planted. And it all started with his original letters. 1, 2 Corinthians, his letters to Timothy, the Galatians, etc. 

It all started with those first seeds, and as his writings have been passed on from generation to generation, his reward only continues to grow. Paul planted but he didn’t see all of the fruit immediately or the fruit that he continues to have today. But his rewards that he will one day reap all started from those first seeds.

Wouldn’t it be incredible to go up to Heaven and discover that the few seeds that you had sown into the hearts of others had grown into hundreds, or thousands?! Thirty, sixty, one hundred.

In Christ,

Andrew

In most small engines that are made today they have what is known as a low oil sensor, and what it does is if the oil level in the engine becomes too low it will shut down to prevent the engine from destroying itself.

Just as that sensor serves as an escape for the motor from total ruin, we have an escape from the sin and temptations that we encounter in our lives.

“1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

God knows how far we are able to be pushed in our faith, and how strong we are, and He will not allow us to be tempted in a way that we are not able to overcome.

When the devil tempted Job, God didn’t allow the devil to tempt him farther than he was able to handle. Throughout all of the trials and temptations that he went through, from the death of his sons, and the destruction of his animals, Job never let those temptations cause him to sin against God. He remained steadfast and strong as he pushed through those temptations.

You don’t make a house without some kind of entry or exit. There is always a way out, just as there is a way out of temptations.

2 Peter 2:9  “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:”

When we pray the Lord’s prayer, Jesus instructed us to pray “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” The devil appears in many forms out in the world today, trying to get people to be deceived and turn against God, tempting people when and where they are weakest, but through the help that we have in the Lord, we will overcome.

Psalms 124:7-8  “Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

To be like Christ, as is the goal of a Christian, means that we need to deny those ungodly and worldly lusts that is so, unfortunately, natural for a person without the guidance of Christ to fall into. Covetousness, pride, lying, hatred etc. Put those things away, and put on Christ.

1 Peter 4:1-3  “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

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:”

How is your “oil sensor” doing?

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.

Many years ago, before I became a believer in Jesus, I was in charge of a safety committee at a large manufacturing plant.  We would have regular meetings and talk about safety issues.  I taught the crew about how to lift properly, and how to watch out for anything that could potentially cause harm to another worker.  Many of the meetings had to do with people complying with P.P.E., or Personal Protective Equipment that were supplied to the employees when they became gainfully employed by the company.  This equipment included such things as hard hats, ear protection, and steel toed shoes.  The main problem is that many people didn’t want to use the items that could potentially save them from danger, and possibly their life.  Some of the complaints were.”do I really have to do this?”. 

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

Preaching God’s Word is very similar to offering someone safety equipment, but scripture can save your soul.  Preaching shows that you want others to be saved and you truly care for them.   The greatest love for your neighbor is to offer them scripture, which is far more important than handing them a hard hat on the job.  But, although you can warn people, it doesn’t mean that they will listen.  Some people may refuse to wear their steel toed shoes, or throw their earplugs on the ground, and it’s their choice if they choose to throw caution to the wind.  Those who do these kinds of things in regards to Christian teachings, endanger themselves and their own salvation.  The greatest protective equipment that we have in the church, are the teachings of scripture, but in order for them to protect and save you, we must put them on, wearing them each and every day of our life.

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.

God’s Word teaches us how to live our lives and be transformed, but in order for this to happen, we need to lovingly submit to what it says.  In modern forms of Christianity, many people believe in God’s love and forgiveness but their lives are completely exempt of submission to scriptural truth.  They want to believe that they will be in heaven, but completely reject the doctrine of heaven.  Instead of choosing sincere obedience to the will of God, some choose naughtiness instead

James 1:21-22  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

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

Scripture is very much like a hard hat, but you need to put on if its going to be effective.  We need to do the will of God rather than just hearing the will of God.  We are saved through God’s grace, but without faith, becoming a doer of God’s Word will not happen.

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Part of our salvation depends on God’s merciful grace, but it also must be combined with our faith. Real faith in a person’s heart will cause them to obey the will of God.  Conversion to biblical truth is not optional, its mandatory.  We are not saved by grace alone, it must be mingled with faith, otherwise people will come short of paradise.

Hebrews 4:1-2  Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Many people listened to Jesus as He preached the things of God’s kingdom, but some of them really didn’t believe in the message He taught.  People can have knowledge of God’s Word but without faithful application, it does not benefit them at all. All it is, is head knowledge.  Its like having a locker full of protective equipment but never even bothering to put it on.  To save our souls, we need wear it and put it on.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 ………putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

We must put on the armour of light

Romans 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Ephesians 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

You must put on the new man.

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.

Colossians 3:9-10  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Genuine faith is required for salvation.  Haven’t you ever been at a manufacturing plant that said hard hats are required?  Many forms of modern forms of Christianity preach grace, but reject faith that is required to accomplish the will of God.

Luke 18:8  ……..Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

The evidence of faith is obedience to the teachings of scripture.  If people are going to willfully reject obedience, faith is non-existent.  How can you claim to believe in something, yet refuse to obey the thing you claim to believe?

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.

Obeying the will of God is not obtaining salvation by works, it is doing what is required of a God who loves us.  We prove our love for Him through our obedience.

Romans 2:7-10  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but God wants to transform and convert us from sinners into saints.  If you really want to get to heaven someday, you are going to need to do the will of God, which requires faith.  It’s a matter of reaching inside the locker each day for Gods Word, and making sure you put on your…

…..Hard Hat

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

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 is a peculiar fish that is eaten as an exotic delicacy in the Philippines. It has a big round head with large eyes and a mouth that always seems to be open.  They can be found in tropical and subtropical waters, some species of them being very poisonous.  Diodon hystrix, or porcupine fish, have an interesting way of defending themselves.  They have the ability to inflate their bodies, puffing themselves up by swallowing water or air, and like a porcupine, raising its spines.  Apparently these fish can swim pretty well when inflated, but only if they do so, upside down.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

When people get involved with sin, just like this fish, it can puff up their hearts with pride.  Instead of swimming in the upright position, sinful pride can cause a person to swim the wrong way than what is intended,…. completely upside down.

1 Corinthians 4:18-21  Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.  For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

1 Corinthians 5:1-8  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,  

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

When someone is puffed up they become proud of the sinful way that they behave themselves.  Instead of being ashamed, they rejoice.  In the Corinthian church, there was fornication that was going on, but instead of feeling bad about it, they were boasting about it, like it was a good thing.  Fornication is partaking in sexual favors with someone who you are not married to.  A woman who is baptized by submersion into the Christian faith commits fornication and adultery if she divorces and remarries another man who is not her current husband.  When people get involved with sin, they can get very arrogant and boastful about the wickedness that they are participating in.  They aren’t even afraid to talk about it in the open because there is no fear of God before their eyes.

Romans 3:18  There is no fear of God before their eyes.

The Apostle didn’t want fornication to be named once in the church.  Sexual sin with others is an extremely grievous sin in the sight of God, insomuch that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of it.

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

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

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

When someone gets involved with sin, they need to be filled with Godly sorrow so that they can overcome it.  They need to recognize sin for what it truly is, behavior that is outside the will of God.  Instead of feeling bad about what was going on amongst them, the Corinthian Church was puffed up.  For example, someone might rob a bank, and boastfully tell others about it.  Someone might commit an evil deed against their neighbor, and joyfully speak about it as if it is something praiseworthy.  Christians are not supposed to rejoice in sin.

1 Corinthians 13:6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.

When someone truly has Godly sorrow in their heart, they are going to feel bad about the wrongs that they have done, and will cause them to accept the truth, rather than believe a lie.  It causes a person to quickly apologize and confess fault both to God and others.  In order to overcome and be victorious over sin, you must first realize the error of your way.  An impenitent heart will refuse to do this, and results in being puffed up with pride.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Just like leaven will work its way through an entire loaf of bread, sin can do the same in a church.  The issue in the Corinthian Church was that they thought it was acceptable behavior.

Galatians 5:9  A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

There are some people that partake of Holy Communion unto damnation because they will not examine their own heart and mind, admitting the sin that they are living in.  In that state, they are being deceived and believing a lie.

Ephesians 5:3-7  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

We don’t want to allow ourselves to be deceived, but accept the truth of scripture.  When we believe and trust in what it says, and meekly submit to it, conversion can happen in our souls.

James 1:21-22  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

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

Pride is a terrible thing because it can blind you to the truth. Being puffed up with pride can cause a person to flip completely upside-down to the truth, and swim the wrong way, very much like the…..

…….Diodon hystrix

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