Good morning and welcome in.  Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that I wanted to ask you a question.

What is something that you spend a lot of your time doing during your day?  There are numerous time consuming activities that one can get involved with that simply take you away from a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Perhaps some of you own a dog.  Have you ever been walking your dog on a leash and they look up at you so happy to be with you as they walk obediently by your side.  Both of you are enjoying the nice day together when a squirrel jumps from a tree and then all of a sudden the dog’s eyes are off of you, and they’re on the squirrel.  The dog quickly forgets about you and focuses on the squirrel instead.  All they can think of is pulling away from you as they rip the leash from your hand.  In the same way the cares of this world can pull us away from God. So again I ask you, what is it that you spend a lot of your time doing during your day?

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

Time is very precious.  You have to decide what you are going to spend it on.  Some people are more concerned about heading off to work in the morning rather than seeking God in prayer.  Others are more concerned about cutting their lawn or painting the house than going to church or a bible study.  The world pulls people in many different directions and you will have to examine yourself and determine what the squirrel is in your life that pulls you away from God.  Something was more important for the following people than visiting with their lord. 

Luke 14:16-24  Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.  And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.  And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.  So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.  And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.  For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Our hearts cannot be focused fully on love for God when our lives are so cluttered with things of the world.

Luke 8:14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Cares, riches and pleasures of this life take your eyes off devotion to God.  When we empty our lives of Earthly concerns we have much more time available to focus our attention on the one who laid down his life at the cross for our sins.  Moses turned away from all the treasures and concerns in Egypt so that he could focus completely on the Lord.  The apostles forsook everything to follow Christ.

What do you really need to get by each day? A pair of clothes, some food to eat, hopefully a nice place to sleep.  If you can truly learn to be content living day to day with such things you will have lots of time to seek God.  Like the squirrel, it’s worldly concerns and desires that take our eyes off Christ. 

1 Timothy 6:6-10  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

A lot of times people like to go camping in a tent for a few weeks in the summer.  Some decide to leave their cell phones or any other kind of electronics at home to get away from everything.  After they’re out in the woods for a day, they realize that they have a lot of free time available.  Now they have time to seek God, to pray to him, to read the scriptures or to think and meditate on his Word.  In order to get to that point where you had that kind of time available, you had to come out from the world and be separate.  For some people it only lasts a few weeks in the summer, but for Christians we are called to do this every single day.  Separating yourself from the concerns of this world creates a lot more time available to spend with Jesus and to grow in your faith.  Our eyes and our hearts need to be completely focused on our relationship with Him.  He needs to be our greatest love.

What we need to do is to step back from the world so that we have no cares and concerns to come in between us and Him.  The Lord Jesus would step back from the world and go into the mountains to spend time with the heavenly Father.  The Lord Jesus would step back from the world and go somewhere by himself to pray.  Each of us need to step back from the cares of the world, from all the busy work, from the hustle and bustle, from all those things that are unimportant in regards to our relationship with God.  Christianity is about  turning away from the world and turning to God.  It’s about focusing our love and attention on spiritual things, rather than on the things of this Earth.  

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

So take a look into your own life and examine those things that pull you away from a loving and devoted heart towards God.  Say goodbye to the world, come out and be separate, and learn to take a…….

…..Step Back.

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

tlkjbc.com

Can you remember a time in your life when you felt sad, or discomforted, and someone came up to you to try to make you feel better?

Maybe when you were a child you were outside riding your bike when you crashed into something and fell over, skinning your knees and elbows. As the tears began to well up in your eyes because of the pain, someone came up to you and held you, and led you into the house to get a bandage. Do you know what kind of quality this person showed you? They showed you compassion.

Compassion is deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it.

Some synonyms are empathy, mercy, pity, or tenderheartedness.

It is a very nice feeling to have someone comfort you isn’t it? To know that someone else cares about you and wants to help ease your suffering. We all go through times in life when we need some love, and compassion is what we need to be filled with towards others.

1 Peter 3:8  “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:”

When a baby is just a couple months old and they are hungry, the only way for them to communicate is to cry and scream until they get some milk. Compassion will cause a parent to get up in the middle of the night to give their baby a bottle of milk.

Throughout the Gospels we can find many instances where people had come up to Jesus, seeking to be healed. They were suffering from disease and afflictions, and when they came to Jesus He “was moved with compassion” towards the people and healed them. He saw their needs and He helped them.

The opposite of compassion would be someone who is “hard hearted” or emotionless. Someone with a “stone-face” who doesn’t show emotion or care about others when they are clearly in need of help or comfort. The Levite and the priest that passed by the injured man in the parable of the Good Samaritan were of this type. They saw someone badly hurt and in need of assistance, but did nothing. They had the ability and opportunity to help, but they didn’t.

The apostle John wrote that if someone has the comforts of the world, plenty of food, clothing, etc, but they see someone in need, and they do nothing to help them, how are they showing the love that Christ has shown?

1 John 3:17  “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”

Compassion is love for your neighbor. Seeing someone in need and you are able to help them, and you do help them. Jesus saw that we needed help. We needed a way to be rid of our sins, but we couldn’t do it by ourselves. Struggling under the massive weight of our sins, we were “bogged” down and unable to achieve complete forgiveness. Jesus saw this, and His love for us caused Him to come down to our level, and die to save us from our sins.  That is compassion.

Galatians 6:2  “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Love and compassion for others is what this next passage of scripture is about. It is a perfect passage that shows what compassion is.

Matthew 25:34-46  “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

We could never do anything so incredible as what Jesus did for us, but we need to do as much as we can to show our love towards others. When we see someone sad we need to try to comfort them. When we see someone sick, we need to take care of them. See someone who clearly needs some love? Don’t keep it all to yourself; show them some compassion!

In Christ,

Andrew

Good Morning and welcome in. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.

If you are into history, in 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived in the New World.  It’s claimed that he scuttled or burned some of his ships upon arrival leaving no option for people to return from whence they had left.  There was no going back.  There are other incidents in history where men were ordered to destroy their ships leaving them no option to have a change of mind or direction.  Apparently Alexander did the same, burning his ships in 334 bc when they landed on Persian shores, placing his troops on an irreconcilable course of action from which they could not change their mind or return back.

Some people through a lack of mercy burn their boat of reconciliation with others. L

Matthew 5:23-24 (KJB) 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.

Have you ever regretfully apologized for something but no matter what you said or did it really didn’t matter because they weren’t going to forgive you anyway?  You made the effort to reach out to them but instead of forgiving and reconciling with you, they closed up their heart and refused to show mercy, taking an irreversible course and direction in their implacable mind.  They burn their boat of reconciliation.

Not forgiving and reconciling with others is one of the most destructive sins in scripture because the one that you are destroying is yourself.  The reason why I say this is because if you cannot forgive and reconcile with others, God is not going to forgive you.  If we have no forgiveness with God we have no hope of salvation and eternal life.  God will treat you the same way you treat others.

Sins will eventually be punished in the Lake of fire.  People in this state of mind are willfully choosing to go against everything that Christ Jesus stands for, forgiveness, mercy and reconciliation.  They are implacable and unmerciful.

Romans 1:31  Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.

The word implacable means incapable of being appeased, placated or pacified.  No matter what you do, nothing can warm the coldness of their heart.  Implacable is used to describe somebody who has strong opinions or feelings that are impossible to change.  They refuse to forgive and reconcile as commanded by Christ, because they have burned that ship in their own mind.  They are inexorable, meaning that you cannot persuade them or move them no matter what you do.

When somebody is implacable they are cruel which is willfully causing pain or suffering to others, or feeling no concern about it.  They are remorseless, showing no sadness or guilt.  They are vindictive which is disposed to seek revenge and intend to cause anguish or hurt to someone.  They are spiteful and irreconcilable, refusing to forgive and reunite with others.  Lastly they are merciless, showing no mercy and without pity.

These are qualities that are completely opposite to the qualities of God.  They are contrary to divine love and are the result of an unforgiving bitter heart.  Instead of allowing sins to wash under the bridge through their forgiveness, they burn the bridge of reconciliation instead. They are implacable.

On the other hand, when someone is placable it means that they are easily pacified and appeased.  They are quick to forgive.  This is the way that God is.  He’s very forgiving and very merciful when we confess our faults to Him. Christians are called to show that same mercy that they have received from God to others so that they can reconcile with them.  To reject this is to reject the accepted teachings of the common faith.  Without reconciliation between parties, divine forgiveness never took place.

If you have gone through the effort to apologize and to express regret you have done your part in the eyes of God.  The burden is no longer on your shoulders but is transferred onto the other person.  If they refuse to forgive and reconcile they risk damnation.  In this day and age there is a false gospel being taught by numerous people.  They teach that you can forgive without reconciliation.  That is foolishness.  Imagine God saying I forgive you, but you won’t be in heaven.  Imagine the dad of the prodigal Son saying I forgive you, but I don’t want you around me or living here anymore.  That’s not forgiveness, it’s not even love, it is the world’s form of forgiveness that is led by an unmerciful implacable heart.

The way that you treat others will go full circle and come right back on you.

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.

How forgiving are we commanded to be with each other?

Matthew 18:21-35  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

This passage is an example of an implacable, unmerciful servant

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.  

So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

To forgive from the heart means that you love and care for the offender.  To forgive from the heart means that you want to be together with them once again.  The prodigal son returned home to find open arms, forgiveness and reconciliation waiting for him.  If that kind of forgiveness cannot be shown to others, especially in the Christian Church, then It will not be shown to you by God.  You alienate yourself from God’s mercy by not reconcilling with others.  

God’s forgiveness completely blots out our transgressions as though they never happened so that reconciliation can happen and we can be with Him someday in heaven.  If you cannot extend others grace after you ever received grace from God, then it truly is an unforgivable sin, provoking the wrath of a merciful God.  

All that is left and remains is impending punishment for the unmerciful and implacable if they’re going to make that choice to….

……..Burn the Boat.

Let’s think about these things for right now and Lord willing we’ll talk some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.❤️

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

Matthew 21:18-22  “Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

The fear of heights is a common fear that many people share. If you asked someone with this fear that, if they had to, would they be able to climb a tall tower and look over the edge? While they may be physically able to, the fear in their minds will prevent them from even attempting it. They have a lack of faith in their abilities. They don’t believe.

This is similar to prayer to God. Jesus taught that all things that you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive. But faith is the key. You have got to believe in the power of prayer completely.

I once overheard someone say that prayer doesn’t work, that it is a “hoax.” This individual was obviously an unbeliever who did not understand what faith was. Prayer does work, but it requires that you put your faith in Christ. You have to pray, believing in the power of prayer. 

To “believe in” someone or something means “to hold confidence and trust in that person or concept.”

We have to place our faith in God that He will keep His promises. There can never be any doubt in our minds when we come to the Lord in prayer. He can do all things, and there is nothing that is impossible for God. 

Prayer is a very, very powerful tool that every Christian has access to to petition God for our needs. Then prophet Elijah prayed and it did not rain for three and a half years. He prayed again and the skies opened up and the rains came. This is not just a “coincidence”. This is a result of a faith-filled prayer.

James 5:17-18  “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

The Apostles did many incredible miracles, but that power did not come from themselves. They were flesh and blood like everyone else, but when they believed in Christ they were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, through which they performed miracles, healed sickness, and raised the dead. How was this possible? Faith and belief.

Mark 11:24  “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

God wants to give us spiritual things, but as James taught, you need to ask in faith. No wavering. No doubt. Complete trust and belief in God’s promise.

James 1:5-7  “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.

For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

If you don’t really believe that you’re going to receive what you ask for when you pray, then don’t expect to have your prayers answered. As Jesus said “according to your faith be it unto you.” 

Faith can move mountains. How strong is your faith?

In Christ,

Andrew

Good morning and welcome in. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from second Peter, but before that I want you to think about something.

Imagine cleaning your house and bagging up all the garbage and refuse.  You decide to make a trip to the landfill and throw it all in the dumpster.  Later on that week you have second thoughts and decide to go back to the dump and bring all that trash right back home again.  You tear open the bags and dump that garbage right back in your living room after you had cleaned it all up.

The Christian life is about cleaning up your life of sin.  Some people will begin the Christian life but will turn away from the faith and get involved once again with the sins from which they left in the first place.  Instead of continuing in the teachings of Christ they abandon the truth.  It had been better off that they had not become a Christian in the first place.

2 Peter 2:20-22  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Instead of continuing to follow and obey Christ Jesus, there will be some who return to the life that they left in their past. After they have gotten off the wide road that leads to destruction, they will simply return and get back on it once again.  Instead of learning the lesson that the end of those things is death, they just don’t care anymore.  The Christian life becomes too difficult for them and because of impenitance, they fall away from their faith, evidenced in their lack of obedience to Christ and his teachings. 

When somebody escapes the pollutions of the world it means that their life undergoes a change through God’s grace and the knowledge and the teachings of Jesus Christ.  Someone begins the Christian Life and begins to turn away from the old lifestyle that they lived, in order to become a new creature.  They last for a period of time, but then for whatever the reason, they turn away from the faith.  Instead of continuing to follow and lovingly obey Jesus, they rebel and return to the life that they left when they first became a Christian.  They willfully choose to serve the ways of the world once again, rather than remaining in the doctrines of Christ.  For this group of people, it will be far worse with them then it was before they became a Christian at the beginning.  God is not mocked and those who choose to reject the faith in such a manner will be punished.

Jude 1:6  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

From what I have read, adult dogs will eat their own vomit and is considered by many as a part of their natural behavior.  You can clean a pig, but the natural behavior for a pig is to live in the mud.  You might attempt to train a dog not to do this behavior, or wash off a pig and teach them not to wallow in the mud, but they might very well reject their training and return to their old ways in the future.

Christians are called to grow in the teachings and instructions of God’s Word, trained in the way of righteousness, but like a dog or a pig, some will return to what comes natural to them, living in carnality and sin.  They really don’t care about how they live anymore because their conscience is seared.  You can train somebody in the way they should go but you can’t live their lives for them.

1 Timothy 4:1-2  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

When someone departs the faith they turn away from the Christian life and the teachings that they been educated in within the church.  Instead of listening to men of God, they choose to listen seducing spirits who lead them on the path to damnation.  They are filled with hypocrisy, appearing to be religious but completely rejecting biblical truth.  Instead of discerning right from wrong, they simply don’t care anymore when they live in sinfulness.  With that attitude Godly sorrow can’t happen, and no change can take place.

Proverbs 30:20 – Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

When we become a Christian we must turn from our natural behavior to spiritual behavior.  It’s turning away from the carnal nature to the divine nature.  Once we begin to live as a Christian we are not to return to the past from which we left otherwise it will be far worse.

John 5:14  Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

Lots wife is an example of someone who was longing to return to what they had left behind.

Genesis 19:26  But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt

Everybody deals with the carnal nature but it needs to be subdued and mortified.  We have to go through a change to inherit the kingdom of heaven someday.  Without a change through conversion, salvation is unattainable.

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.

Once you begin the Christian life there is no turning back.  We are called to come out and be separate from the world, not to rejoin it and the sins from which we left.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18  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.

Like a plant without a root to hold it in place, there will be people who will not stay rooted in the teachings of Christ, and will end up deceiving themselves, and being deceived by others.  

Luke 8:13  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

God gives us grace, but what is His grace given for? It’s for change. It’s to become something different, a new creature.  Some people just aren’t going to make it, and return to their old life, going back to the vomit…..

……..and wallowing in the mud.

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

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

Matthew 12:46-50  “While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

When the United States was first formed, it didn’t look like it does today. As the settlers slowly made their way westward, more and more cities, villages, and towns were created. Once enough people had colonized an area, a territory was formed, and those eventually were turned into States. One by one more states were created, as they all became united together to form this country.

In a way, all of the states are like a family. Brothers and sisters. Before the 1950’s, there were only 48 states which made up the United States; the states of Alaska and Hawaii were not added until 1959. But when they were admitted into the Union, it was like adding two more members to the family. 

Which is like what happens in the church. Ultimately, all that we learn in the Bible has come from Jesus and His Apostles. The Apostle Paul wrote that even though you may have had many instructors in Christ, “yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”  Paul was, and is, like a spiritual dad in our faith, and all of us who have learned from his Spirit-filled writings are like brothers and sisters. A part of the family of God.

But we who are Gentiles did not always have this privilege, to be called sons of God. For the entire time leading up to Christ’s birth, it was only the Jews to which was extended the “family circle.” The Gentiles did not have the things of God, but were “strangers from the covenants of promise.” They were like Alaska and Hawaii before statehood. Shut out.

But because of Jesus’ incredible gift, now the entrance into the family of God is opened to all who believe in Him. Through His gift, we all can become a part of the household of God.

Ephesians 2:12-19  “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

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

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”

So how can we become a part of this family? One by one we need to come to Christ. We need to confess our sins so that we can be forgiven. We need to do the will of the Father, and when we do, Jesus says, “the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” 

In Christ,

Andrew

Good morning and welcome man today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of James.

James 4:1-5  From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.  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. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

Have you ever noticed that children will fight over just about anything?  Sometimes they fight over who gets the back seat of the bus.  Sometimes they fight over who gets the computer first.  Sometimes they fight over each other’s possessions and belongings.  These feelings are driven by the carnal nature that is within each of us.  In the church, when we become a Christian, we are supposed to put away childish things. We are called to deny the carnal nature and go on unto Spiritual maturity. It’s not spiritual to fight and war with each other like this because It only reveals greed and covetousness.  We are supposed to lovingly share, just as the early church did.

Acts 4:32  And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Sometimes we don’t have things in life simply because we don’t ask for them.  When you pray to God, it means to petition and ask him for things.  When you need something, the first person to approach with your need is God.  We pray about it.

If a wife wants ice cream from the store, she needs to petition her husband for it.  If a child needs a new bicycle, they need to petition their dad for it.  Many times in the military if you need something you fill out a requisition form and you ask for it.  When a man of God needs help, He petitions God for his needs.  The Lord Jesus Christ is capable of freely giving us all things to enjoy.  There is nothing that he cannot do.

As scriptures teach, in order to receive something you must first ask.  Many times in life people don’t have things because they don’t even bother to pray about it.  In the story of The prodigal Son, (Luke 15:11) ,the elder son was upset because his dad had never given him a kid to make merry with his friends.  It appears that he had never even asked for one, until he saw what was going on with his brother.  You have not because you ask not.  Whatever you need in life, you can petition God.

Sometimes people ask, but it’s only to consume it upon their own selfish desires.  I ask any of you parents out there, if a child asked for $50 who are you going to give it to?  Will it be the one who uses it just for selfish gain or will it be the child who takes the rest of their siblings out to dinner?  One is motivated by selfish greed while the other is motivated by love.

…,…..Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?

Many people in this world are simply focused on exponential gain for themselves.  Remember that the love of money is the root of all evil.  Some people want a bigger house, not to benefit their family or their wife but to benefit themselves and their lusts for the comforts of this world.

Some people want a brand new truck not to help their family or their children but for their own enjoyment.

The scriptures teach about a man who tore down his barns and built greater ones.  Why did he do this?  Because he wanted to store up, retire, and use all the things that God had given him for self gratification.  You can’t love God and Mammon.  The Love of money completely blinds a person.  It blinds them to love.  Life no longer becomes focused on helping others but rather about selfish gain for oneself.  After all, look at what happened to Scrooge.  Because he loved possessions he completely alienated love for others. God is love and this is why this behavior is spiritual adultery against him. It is completely contrary to everything that God is.  God is the greatest giver that there has ever been, so when you love the things of this world you show who your real friends truly are.  Abraham was called the friend of God.  Numerous people today are friends of the world.  They love the world and its possession and gain more than God and others.

One example of this is the wealthy man. (Mark 10:17)

He thought he had kept all the commandments so Jesus took him to a point in his life that he was struggling with.  It had to do with giving up possessions to those in need.  He wept at the thought of it.  He cared for his possessions more.  He loved the possessions of this world more than loving and following Jesus.  He made a decision that day to turn to his possessions rather than turning to Christ.  That’s called friendship with the world.

Abel gave a better sacrifice to God than Cain.  Able was a friend of God rather than a friend of the world.  Cane was a friend of the world and it created enmity between him and his brother insomuch that he killed Him.  Love for the world fights against the things of God.

Numerous people fight and war with each other in court over an inheritance.  This isn’t love it’s called lust and it’s driven by the carnal nature.  When people choose to listen to their carnal nature they make themselves an enemy of God in their own mind.  It’s no longer love for others anymore, it’s love for selfish gain and Earthly increase.  this is one reason why the love of money is the root of all evil.  It is completely opposed to everything that God is.  In this state a person will fight against him and resist him.

Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

The carnal spirit of man is filled with lust and jealousy.  It enviously desires the things of this world and the possessions that a neighbor may possess rather than being content with what God has given you. The carnal nature wants more, more, more, thinking that gain will fill the hole in their heart.  This is one reason why the love of money is spiritual adultery against God.  You’re not loving God anymore, but the world.  Instead of placing your love and your eyes on Christ, they’re placed on the things of this world.  

One must decide whether they love possession or a person.  Do they love gain or do they love God? These are two incredibly huge differences because it defines where your love is placed.  Is your heart placed on Earthly things or divine?  Are your treasures in heaven or are they on the Earth.  Why do people fight and war?  It’s because of the carnal nature that must be resisted through the power of the Holy Spirit.  We are called to love one another not to love the world.

Listen to how the Apostle John sums it up.

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

Remember everything in this world and all of its possessions are going to be gone someday.  You can’t take it with you when you go.  What will remembered is what you did with what you had while you were here.  

So I ask you,…

What’s the point of fighting over….

…..the backseat?

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

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

1 Peter 1:22-25  “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

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

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

Forever. That is a word that none of us really have a true, full understanding of, because there is nothing on Earth that has been around “forever.” The sun rises and the sun sets, signaling the end of a day. A baby is born, they grow old, and then they die. You light a match, starting a flame. As soon as that flame has consumed all that it can, it “dies.” On Earth (and everywhere else in the entire solar system for that matter) everything has a beginning, and an end. 

But the word of the Lord lasts forever. God is eternal, with no beginning, and no end. That is what “eternal” means, and it is something that is so different from everything else that we have ever known.

God’s love is eternal as well. Friends and family may come and go, their love may grow and pass away, but God’s love for you will last forever. The entire world could turn their backs to you and hate you, but there will always be Someone who loves you, and He will never leave you.

Hebrews 13:5-6  “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Trust the Lord. Put your faith in Him, and He will save you. Too many people put their faith and trust into the things in the world, especially money and possessions, while losing sight of what the true riches are and where they are found. Instead of using the brief moment of time that they have in the pursuit of the true riches that are found in Christ, many people fall into the snare of a dollar sign. Money becomes their god. Gold, riches, and all that is in the world will all fade away, and that is why Jesus and His offer of eternal life are the greatest riches that we all need to be seeking after.

1 John 2:15-17  “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

Eternity. That’s a long time, and I hope that you will make the greatest decision of your life to spend it with Jesus.

In Christ,

Andrew

2 Corinthians 9:5-7  “Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

If someone is cheerful, it means that they are happy, joyful, or merry. This will often be evident or visible in a person by their demeanor or the sound of their speech. For example, someone may say the words “thank you” but it is the tone or inflections in the voice that you can tell whether they are truly cheerful or not. The opposite of cheerful is depressed, miserable, or sad.

If you received a gift from someone, but they didn’t seem like they really wanted to give it to you, how would you feel? Instead of a smile as they gave you a gift, what if they had an angry, frustrated expression that said “why do I have to do this?”? It would seem very awkward, wouldn’t it?

Well, the Bible teaches us that God loves a cheerful giver. He loves it when someone gives, not because they have to, or are forced to, but just do it out of the love that is in their heart. That is a true way to know when someone cares about you, when they do something that they weren’t even asked to do, and ask nothing in return. 

The greatest example that we have is our blessed Lord Jesus, Who gave His life to save us. Not because He was forced to, but because of His love.

John 10:14-18  “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

After reading that, I will circle back to the passage of Scripture at the top of the page. Paul instructed the church that, if they wanted to give to the work of the Lord, then they should prepare what they wanted to give far in advance before he even came there, so that whatever they chose to give would be given out of a cheerful heart. He didn’t want them to feel forced or pressured to give anything. If they did decide to give something, they needed to do it out of the love in their hearts.

Give because you want to, not because you are forced to. Give because you love the Lord, and want to support those who spend their time helping others grow in their faith. 

In Christ,

Andrew

Good Morning and welcome in. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.

Up here in northern Minnesota there are a lot of people who enjoy four wheeling.  On nice days in the summer, Andrew and I have been working out in a remote part of the woods, not expecting to see anything, when all of a sudden a family of four wheelers will come roaring out of nowhere.  The town that we live in is not very big but it sure seems to swell in size from those who enjoy this hobby.  There have been days when we have seen more four wheelers in town than there were vehicles.  

No matter if they’re from a different town or visiting from the southern part of the state, there’s something that each of them share in common.  Many of them will return back into town nearly unrecognizable because of the quantity of mud from the trails that they got into.  At the end of the day, either at the car wash or at home with their own pressure washer, they will begin to wash their machines, cleaning off all of the heavy mud that gathered on them during their long trip through the woods.

God also wants to wash away all of the mud.   He wants to cleanse our hearts from the mud of sin.

1 John 1:8-9  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God wants to completely wash our sins away, but before we can be forgiven with God or with our neighbor, we first need to confess our faults otherwise forgiveness cannot occur.  In order to have our sins cleansed we have to admit them first.  When you confess, it means to admit that you have done something wrong, or to admit unwillingly that something is true.  Confession is a very important part of the Christian Life.  When you wrong somebody, especially in the church, you should be compelled to apologize and to admit your fault.  If you are incapable of doing this a lot of different issues can arise.

Matthew 18:15-20  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

The church is filled with sinners who are making an attempt at living a new life for the Lord Jesus Christ.  Each of us have our own faults and shortcomings.  God gives us grace as we need it to get up and to try it again.  The thing that can prevent you from getting forgiven is not recognizing your own faults.  This is caused by self-righteousness and pride.  Instead of examining oneself, many find it easier to be fault-finders of everybody else.  

There’s a false gospel in the world today where people are claiming that you can confess to God but you don’t have to apologize to others that you have wronged.  That’s one of the most unloving statements that I’ve heard recently.  How can you possibly hurt somebody else and not apologize to them for what you’ve done?  That’s not love, it’s cruelty to somebody whom you have wounded.  If you hurt a dog because you hit him with your car on the highway, wouldn’t you have the compassion to pick them up and take them to the vet simply because you cared about them? If you would do that for an animal, wouldn’t you do that for a human heart that you have bruised?  The refusal to simply say “I’m sorry” is caused by impenitence.  We are supposed to confess not only to God but each other as the need arises.  This is commanded in scripture.

James 5:16 – Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

How can you forgive others who don’t apologize?  How can you feed somebody if they don’t show up for supper?  If you refuse to humbly apologize, you are setting yourself up to be bound in a state of unforgiveness.  Confession is so important that God wants you to reconcile with a brother whom you have wronged before you even bring a gift to the church.  God doesn’t want sacrifices, He wants us to show others mercy and apologize.

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

Before God can wash our sins away we need to admit them.  We need to petition Him and admit our faults.   

Psalms 51:1-5 – Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Confession is the handle by which the door to forgiveness is opened.  In order to have the mud of sin washed off of our hearts we need to acknowledge our transgressions.

Psalms 51:2-5 – Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalms 38:18 – For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

Each day God is waiting patiently for people to repent and come forward boldly, declaring their faults so He can wash them thoroughly from sin through the riches of His grace.

Psalms 86:5 – For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

We have a great and precious promise in scripture today that if we trust God and confess our faults He will forgive us, which is the same way we need to treat one another in the church.  

Jeremiah 33:8 – And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

God wants to cleanse us.  Have you apologized to Him and each other so that we can be cleansed and walk together in mercy and grace?

Let’s think about those things for right now and Lord willing, we’ll talk to you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody. ❤️

tlkjbc.wordpress.com