Good morning and welcome in. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture before we do that I wanted to tell you love story.

When I was a child I grew up approximately 15 miles away from town. We would get a lot of snow in the winter and sometimes it would take many days for the snowplow to eventually reach us on our wooded gravel road. In case we had a blizzard or got snowed in, we had a pantry in the basement that was always filled with food just in case we needed it. If you needed something to eat all you had to do was go grab a fresh jar of something from the shelf that have been packed the previous summer.  There were lots of different things to choose from.

We had a huge garden and all of us kids would sit at the picnic table and snap beans so that they could be canned for the winter.  We would can all kinds of fruits and veggies in a hot water bath.

If any of you have ever canned anything the main thing is you need to make sure that the food inside is completely heated and sealed properly. I can always remember sitting down for lunch in the kitchen and as we ate we would hear another one of the jar tops make a large popping sound which showed that it was completely sealed and ready to go into the pantry until the day that we needed it.

Even then God was teaching me about the Christian life.  Each of us are like a canning jar. When we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with all of our hearts we can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit that he places deep within us. Like a canning jar he seals it inside us to be opened up later by him when it comes time to redeem us from this earthly pantry.

Eph 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

If you truly believe in someone, it means to hold confidence and trust in that person or concept.  To trust means to firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

Romans 15:13 – Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Just as we used to seal food in jars, each day people seal letters in envelopes and send them through the mail. A seal is a tight closure. Later on those letters will eventually be redeemed and opened up.

2 Cor 1:21-22 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

2 Cor 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Earnest Is something paid in advance as a deposit; hence, a pledge, a guarantee, or an indication of something to come.

When I used to work in retail, a customer would find an item that they wanted to purchase and they would put it on layaway. They would make a down payment on the item to show that they would return at a later time to redeem it.

Redemption is the recovery, for a fee.  Jesus rescues us from the penalty for our sins.  Someday, faith filled believers in Jesus Christ are going to be redeemed and receive the inheritance of eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

God purchases us by the blood of Jesus Christ that He shed for us at the cross.  He paid our sin debt for us so that we could be cleansed and forgiven in God’s presence.  Jesus will send forth his angels from the clouds above to gather those who have placed their faith in him.

Luke 21:27-28 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Jesus will send His angels to retrieve the faithful, so we can receive eternal inheritance.

Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Inheritance is the passing of title to an estate upon death.  Jesus died on the cross for sin and those who believe in him can someday receive the title for the kingdom of heaven!

Ps 37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

Any inheritance that someone may receive while here upon the Earth is not going to last forever. The apostles clearly teach that the Earth and everything in it is going to be burned up someday. The inheritance of eternal life will be forever and never end.

1 Pet 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

Have you ever decided that you wanted to go on a long trip to another part of the country and had a destination that you wanted to get to? To get there you purchased a ticket to get on the bus. It said location on the ticket. Jesus is our ticket to eternal life in heaven. He has already paid for your ticket in full.  

Like a bus has a predestined course to get you to a final location, God predestines our course with the final stop being the kingdom of heaven. What we need to do is stay seated on the bus of faith that so that we can get all the way home.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

How many things in your life have you owned? Maybe you owned a car or motorcycle, or maybe even a home or riding lawn mower. When you own something it belongs to you completely. When we become a Christian in our heart we no longer our own because we become the property of Jesus Christ.  We belong to him because he purchased us with his blood.  

1 Cor 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Acts 20:28 – Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

So again we are bought and paid for by the blood of Christ Jesus. We are his purchased possession. Just like the canning jars, He seals us up with the Holy Spirit and someday will redeem us from this earthly pantry and take us into the heavens to be with him forever.

Let’s think about those things for today and Lord willing I’ll talk to you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody💖

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

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

Approximately 20 years ago when I was baptized into the Christian faith I decided because of the teachings of Holy Scripture that I didn’t want to owe anything to anybody. Being in debt is like being enslaved.  Out in the world today people come home to see more and more bills coming in the mailbox. They become burdened because they realize that they need to go out and get two or three extra jobs just to make ends meet.  

People owe hundreds of thousands of dollars to a bank because they purchase a home, not to mention monthly credit card bills, rent or payments for a car purchase. When we live in the world our eyes tend to get too big.  In the flesh we desire things that we truly can’t afford. We don’t live according to our means. I call it the ” I want it now syndrome. ” Instead of saving up a little bit of money and purchasing it with cash,  people simply go and get a loan so they can have it today.

Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another…

I was the same way years ago, but when I became a Christian I wanted to follow the teachings of scripture and be completely debt-free. In order to accomplish this I had to turn away from Earthly desires for possessions and focus on the simple things in life. I needed a house for my family, daily food for them to eat, and clothes on their back.  I was convicted when the scriptures taught to be content with such things as you have. 

Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Hebrews 13:5 – Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:

I’m no different than the rest of us because when I was young I wasted all kinds of finances on things that I didn’t need. Instead of being happy and content with a $5 pair of used tennis shoes I wanted a $150 pair.  Instead of being content with a good used car I wanted a new one. In our human nature this is the way we are. In order to possess these things one has to go into debt because they are living beyond their means.

The only condition before I married my wife was that I told her we were going to be poor.  This was the only stipulation between us.  She completely agreed to that.

When we first moved out to Northome MN, we decided to stop living beyond our means. I built a very small house to begin with and paid for it in cash. I’ve noticed that nowadays they make mini homes which basically is what our home was. Instead of using propane or fuel oil we learned to live off the land and burn firewood. Instead of owing a monthly bill to the electric company I decided to use alternative forms of electricity like solar power.  Instead of spending money on pre-made foods we wpuld take our tax return and fill our attic with staples for the year such as flour and sugar, baking powder and things like that.  My wife and I cooked all our food basically from scratch If we had money come in it was only used on absolutely necessary things.  For the first time in our lives, our bills were disappearing.

My children like fresh apples and there are trees in town and at our neighbors that never get picked. We would bring home 100 gallons of apples for the family to eat all winter long. Andrew would plant a garden filled with tomatoes, strawberries and potatoes. The children would gather fresh raspberries, blueberries and serviceberries that grow in our woods for pies or toppings. These activities were completely foreign to me, but they grew on me. Whatever I owned was paid in full. Because of faithfulness to the teachings of scripture my wife could enjoy staying home with the children all day and could watch them grow up while enjoying a good book or simply go for a walk whenever she wanted.

My family enjoy spaghetti so one year we bought a 4$ used pasta machine. In part of our living room we would hang a big string in the ceiling and hang up all the spaghetti noodles to dry. We made so many that we had noodles all week long that we used not only for spaghetti but for soups or pasta salad.

Living cheaply does not mean suffering, you just have to find the simple things in life to enjoy. As a source of meat we decided to get rabbits. We lived off rabbit meat for years which I found to be very healthy and sustaining. Rabbit soup is delicious. Andrew spent a month in the summer building a bunch of hutches and we always had a ready supply of rabbit meat. Eventually we had about a hundred chickens. They provided our family with plenty of eggs and we could butcher some for a fresh chicken dinnerl.

I raised goats for meat and milk. Nobody was hungry in this home, but we were free from the stress of debt thanks to the teachings of Christ. Take it from me, I wasn’t raised this way. I’ve worked in some big cities with extremely high standards of living but looking back all these years I wouldn’t change a thing.

I learned to fish for food for my family. Instead of going to a restaurant or buying high-priced items from a grocery store, we would have mostly home cooked and home-raised meals.

In all these years my wife and I have gone to so many rummage sales and found free things that I cannot even begin to count them all. When our roof finally needed to be replaced on our home, we found someone who was going to throw their entire home in the dumpster to build new.  He allowed us to completely disassemble it during a warm July. When I didn’t know what to do for shingles God provided again.  Someone approached us with a pallet full of free shingles that he didn’t need.  So you see one of my testimonies to the world is when we do things God’s way he rewards us.

Because of the teachings of scripture I couldn’t work alongside other people who didn’t share my Christian faith. I had to find jobs where we could work together as a family at home.  Our income is very similar to a dad who has a milk farm. The entire family works and helps out milking the cows. All of us share the work of providing for the family and we all share in the rewards.  I think this is the way it should be for families in life.

Before I became a Christian in my heart my wife would go to her job, I would go to my job and Andrew would go to school.

The family unit was completely broken up until 6 p.m. at night. Because of the choices I’ve made to follow the teachings of scripture our family has been able to be together innumerable amounts of time each year.   While some people get together on a holidays weekend, Each day is Thanksgiving at our home.   

Our children were born on my own bed in this home. I was the first one to catch them as they came out of the womb. They’ve been homeschooled and are home all day long instead of being away from the family unit. When they get tired of schooling they can help out around the house splitting firewood or helping us catch some fresh fish for dinner.

Although we are a severely poor family in the eyes of the world it has certainly never felt like it. 

When we learn this lesson today, you’ll find you have a lot of time available for other things. You have more time to spend with your beloved children.  You have more time to spend with your wife and most of all you’ll find more time to spend with God.

I have truly learned how to be content in all things. It’s simply a matter of being happy and thankful for what you have, owing no man anything,  and letting God take care of the rest.

Let’s think about those things for today and Lord willing I’ll talk to you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. 💖

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

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.

Many years ago I remember reading a story called are you my mother about a bird trying to find their way back to their mother.

When we become a Christian, blood relationships really don’t matter anymore. We develop new relationships with new brothers and sisters and mothers because we become part of the family of God.  We have new blood relatives through the blood of Christ.

Throughout the scriptures the disciples of Christ referred to each other as brethren. The reason why is because when we become believers of Jesus Christ we have a new family. You must remember that the Jewish nation were all related by blood. When the Apostle Paul turned away from Judaism and embraced Christianity he had a brand new family.

When I was very young people wanted us to do family trees in class. They wanted us to know who we were related to, but the truth is that it really doesn’t matter. What matters is if they do God’s will from their heart and become a part of God’s family.

There are many people in false religions who worship their relatives.  Sadly, there are some who profess Christianity who do the very same things.  They worship their own parents under the guise of honor.

There is a big difference between honor and worship.  Jesus taught that if you are incapable of forsaking parents for His sake then you truly are unworthy of Him.  If your parents are involved with heretical forms of Christianity and you are incapable of separating from them to be faithful to Christ and His Word  than what you are really doing is no longer honor, for it has assimilated into worship.  The Lord is no longer first in their life, their relatives are.

Matt 10:34-37

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Jesus didn’t come to send peace on the Earth but a sword. The scriptures teach us that the sword is the word of God.

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

It’s the teachings found in Holy Scripture that causes variance within a family. The word variance means disagreement.

I’ve taught my family for 20 years that you can never openly deny what the scriptures clearly teach.  If we make a mistake along the way God gives us grace so that we can return to doing his will from our hearts. Many times people try to twist scriptures in order to have it say what they want it to say. They really don’t want to do what it says or become faithful to the teachings of Christ.  It’s gotton so bad that nowadays they are actually changing the wording of the scriptures. This is one of the reasons why there’s so many versions of the Bible today. (I’ve heard many people call them perversions but the disciples didn’t pervert the gospel of Christ.)

A foe is one who has personal enmity towards a person or feels hatred and malice toward someone.  A household is a house and its occupants regarded as a unit.  So you see, the enemy comes from within.  

Love is a very powerful emotion. Love for the Lord Jesus Christ and the teachings of scripture has to be the greatest love of your life because that is the first commandment.   I’ve always told my wife that I love her but I will always love the Lord more.  When we love the Lord Jesus with all of our heart we have a desire to listen and to do his will rather than listen and do the will of others around us. When we are looking for direction, we go to Christ Jesus.  He is first, otherwise we make ourselves unworthy.

…….He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

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

Take notice that it doesn’t say husband in this verse. That’s because a wife is to remain by her husband’s side through everything and obey him completely.  She shows her love for Jesus by doing this.

Matthew 22:37 – Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Once again the greatest love of our life has got to be our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember in the Old Testament that Solomon loved his wives so much that he began to burn incense to strange gods. This upsets the Lord Jesus Christ greatly.  Our God is a God of order. Women are suppose to submit to to men, and men are supposed to go to God. Even in the military if the private wants to know something it comes down through the chain of command. In this modern age that we live in we find men who are professing Christianity who are going to women for instruction and guidance. This is so contrary and wrong and offensive to God.  It’s like listening to a mother’s instruction over the commands of your own dad.

Matthew 19:29

“And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”

Mark 10:29-30 

29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,

30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

In order to claim this blessing, 20 years ago I did this. The blessings that came to pass because of it are innumerable.  I was led to do it by biblical mandates and to show the Lord that I loved him more than anything.  I’m not saying this so you think I’m righteous, I’m telling you because it will increase your spiritual life with God. Love for God has to be greater than anything, even a mother a brother or your own sisters.

Mark 3

31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

So you see a real mother or family members are those who are willing to follow the lord Jesus Christ and his purpose.  We are born through the womb of a mother in this world but when we are baptized by submersion we are reborn through the womb of God. We have new mothers and brothers and sisters in the faith.

Luke 8:21 – And he answered and said unto them,….. 

……….My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

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

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

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 little question.

What kind of family did you grow up in? Each of us in our hearts have convictions about what we feel is right and wrong.  Many people become Christians who have been converted from other religions. In those religions they have learned from a child that certain things are bad and they shouldn’t have or do certain things.  In the church we want to make sure that we’re not a stumbling block to others and causing them to do something that they feel is inherently evil or sinful in their own mind.  

Rom 14:1-23

14 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

The Apostle Paul understood that nothing was unclean of itself but it had to do with convictions that a person might have in their own mind. What might be bad for one person is not for another. But you always have to remember that the freedoms that we have in Christ to enjoy certain things, whatever it is you do or enjoy, you don’t want a brother in the church to feel like they have sinned by attempting to do what you do.

10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

When you are a stumblingblock you are causing someone to sin or go against convictions in their heart.

14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Remember the end of the Commandment is love out of a pure heart.  We are supposed to love one another and bend to the convictions of a brother in the church..

18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

When we edify one another it means to build each other up.

20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

You don’t want to do anything that might cause a brother to fall into some sort of temptation or cause him to feel in his own mind that he is sinning. Although we have numerous liberties and freedoms in the New Testament you don’t want to do an activity that is inherently wrong in the mind of another brother. You may be able to do it by yourself but not while in their presence.

22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

1 Cor 8:1-13

8 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

Remember that food and drink is just that. It goes into the stomach for sustenance. It truly doesn’t make us a better or a worse person.  They are physical things rather than spiritual. These things have nothing to do with love goodness kindness and faith. But again, not everyone can do certain things.  What is okay for you might be wrong for them. If they were attempting to do the same, they would feel like they were sinning.

10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

If you have faith that you can do certain things then have it in private with God who freely gives us all things to enjoy.

Let’s think about those things for today and Lord willing I’ll talk to you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.💖

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

When opposing teams prepare to face each other each in American football, they study video of their opponent, seeking to find any weaknesses that they can attack or exploit, so that they can emerge victorious on game day. 

Maybe the quarterback on one of the teams is hampered by a sore hamstring and cannot move very quickly to evade a defender rushing at him. The opponent will use this weakness against him, and attack it, consistantly rushing men at him to try to cause the quarterback to have to move around on his sore leg, and eventually make a mistake.

When a lion goes out searching for an animal to eat, they usually go and find a group of animals and from that group they often pick out the weakest one to try to attack. Not the strongest, but the weakest, the most vulnerable, and the easiest to kill.

Similarily, the when the devil tries to tempt someone and try to get them to fall to sin, he will attack that person where they are the weakest, the most likely to succumb to that temptation and sin.

“Temptation” is the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.

I know that I can relate to this: as a child, when someone hits you, what is the response that we feel? The desire to retaliate, and hit them back.

That feeling is us being tempted by the devil. The desire to do something that is wrong and we shouldn’t do. That is what the devil does, is try to cause someone to sin.

The devil will try to attact you where you are the weakest, and he even tempted (or tried to tempt) the Lord Jesus in Matthew 4.

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:1-4

The devil also proceeded to tempt Jesus a couple other ways, but look at what he started with. After 40 days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry, and the devil attempted to use that to try to get the Lord to fall to temptation. Jesus resisted the devil, and overcame.

And that is what James wrote in James 4:7, 

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

On our own, without Christ, we are weak, and vulnerable to temptations and sin. That is why we pray in the Lord’s prayer, lead us not into temptation. We are asking the Lord to make us strong, and to help deliver us from those things which are tempting to us. 

When we resist the devil, we are overcoming the traps and snares that he has laid out to try to trip us, to make us fall. And we can know that we CAN overcome those temptations, because God will not let us be tempted above that we are able to handle.

“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.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

But just like a muscle on your body, when you exercise it, what happens? It becomes stronger. When you first start your muscles might only be able to curl a 20 pound dumbbell a few times before tiring out, but as you continue working it, consistantly lifting those weights, the stronger your muscles will become.

When we are tempted, our faith is being tried, and we have that opportunity to make it even stonger by overcoming temptations, whatever form they may take.

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations; 

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4

Through Jesus, we can be overcomers. Just as Jesus overcame the devil in the wilderness, we can do the same thing. We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us!

In Christ,

Andrew

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

Many years ago my wife, Andrew and I got up early to attend a church service. Someone had given me a King James Bible on a street corner that I had been studying for a year and I thought it would be great to worship with others who believed the same things.

Eventually during the service it came time for the offering plate to be passed around. I looked inside my wallet and the only thing that I had inside was $40. I had absolutely nothing in our checking and savings accounts and if I put this in the offering plate I would be completely broke. We were supposed to go visit some people in southern Minnesota and all that I had was the tank of gas in my car. That day I decided to joyfully give everything that I had and prayed to God for the rest.

The next day we left on our long trip but just before we got to our final destination we stopped at a dollar store where they sold used clothing and other items. After taking a little walk around the store my wife found a little piggy bank on a shelf. She happened to spy what looked like a dollar bill inside. I figured we might as well buy it because the bill inside would pay for the purchase.

Later that day when we finally managed to get the dollar bill out of the bank, we realized it wasn’t a dollar bill at all, It was two $20 bills……. the exact amount that I given to God in the offering plate just one day early earlier.

Mark 12:41-44

⁴¹ And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

⁴² And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

⁴³ And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

⁴⁴ For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

There have been so many amazing things that God has done in my life that I don’t know if I could even mention them all. I’m not telling you this story today to show you that I’m some righteous person but to illustrate to you the righteousness of God when we are faithful with the things that he gives us. I’ve seen the rewards from Him happen in my life.

To somebody who is wealthy and has a lot of money $40 may not seem like much of an offering but to be completely honest with you it’s a lot when you’re flat broke. The poor are blessed by God. To give everything you have requires a lot of faith. It’s not the size of the gift but the attitude of the heart when it’s given. Whether somebody has a million dollars or somebody has $100 it still requires the same amount of faith to cheerfully give it all up for God.

Whatever you give to God’s work you need to remember that it has to be done with a cheerful heart. God is not forcing us to give money, He wants us to give gifts out of the abundance that He has already blessed us with. Any gifts presented to God must be done with a thankful heart for the grace that He has provided for us at the cross. A penny is worth more to God than $100 as long as it’s done with a thankful heart.

(Remember that before giving an offering to God, He wants you to to first be reconciled with others that you have wronged. That is first.)

The Apostle Paul didn’t want to be associated with any kind of covetness or greed. If the church was truly going to give to the things of God, he wanted it to be done when he wasn’t even there. He wanted it to be done according to their own free will.

2 Cor 9:1-8

1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

² For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

³ Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

⁴ Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

⁵ 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.

⁶ But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

⁷ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

I attended a church service one year when they passed the offering plate around but then five minutes later they yelled on the microphone that they didn’t get enough money. They instructed the crowd that they needed to give more. Remarkably they sent the offering plate out a third time in order to get the money that they wanted. In that situation it was no longer a gift.

Those are the kinds of things that the Apostle Paul didn’t want to be associated with. He preached for free.

1 Cor 9:18

¹⁸ What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

The Lord has ordained that those who preach the gospel can make a living from the gospel. The priests in the Old Testament survived by the offerings that were brought to the temple, but many today abuse this verse as simply a way to hide their own covetness. There wasn’t a bone of covetousness in the Apostle Paul and he was content in whatever state he was in.

Phil 4:10-19

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

¹⁴ Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

¹⁵ Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

¹⁷ Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

¹⁸ But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

¹⁹ But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

God is the greatest giver that there is. If and when you give to God, think about what Jesus died and paid for at the cross for all of us and give not only with a thankful heart but as an expression of appreciation to Him for all that he does each and every day.

Thank God for the precious gift of His Son Jesus.

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

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

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.

Almost 20 years ago my family decided to move out to a small little town in northern Minnesota. The town is only about four blocks long and it was a huge change for me because I worked and lived in towns with over a hundred thousand people.  I was motivated by biblical mandates and found some inexpensive land and decided to put up a real small starter home that we could add on to in case we needed more room.  Our goal was to live as inexpensively as possible and as much as we could, without any bills at all.  

Everybody was anxious and ready to move into the woods as soon as possible but the only problem was that it was the end of January. It was a very cold winter that year with temperatures from 30 to 40 below.  We were fairly poor and I really didn’t have a good pair of winter boots or gloves. I would come out to the property each day and work on our new home, but by the end of the day I could barely feel my feet and my hands. The cold Arctic air seemed to blow right through my jacket like I had a t-shirt on.  The only place I could warm up was in the car with the heater on.  When it finally came time to start on the roof I had to tie myself to a tree with a rope to ensure I wouldn’t fall off.

The most grueling and hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life was shingling that house in 40 below. I was all by myself carrying those heavy bundles up onto the roof. Some days there was so much ice that the shingles would slide right off and hit the ground.  I would later find some of them broken in the pack from the cold.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

What is one of the most grievous and grueling things that you’ve ever experienced in your life?  Grievous is caused or characterized by severe pain, suffering, or sorrow such as a grievous wound. Although roofing my house in 40 below was grievous, there is nothing grievous about keeping the commandments of God.  

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

What difficulty is it to simply love God and each other?  Is it really that hard?  One time at the gas station, somebody was asking me what to do about their neighbor who they were having great difficulty with.  I told them to treat them the way that they would want to be treated and to love them.  His response was “do I really have to?”  Isn’t that the way that each of us are in our fleshy human nature? We want to retaliate but the Lord Jesus wants us to learn how to love one another as he loved us.  The scriptures clearly teach us that God loves us dearly.  His love for this sinful world is absolutely amazing in the fact that He sent and allowed His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God loved us even before we repented and converted from our sinful condition.

Romans 5:8 – But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Each of us are sinners in the eyes of God who need to be redeemed through the blood of Christ. Nobody kept the law perfectly and we have all come short of pleasing God.  Even though we’ve made mistakes, God still extends His incredible love to this world in the fact that He sent His son Jesus as a payment for our transgressions.

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

The Apostle Paul was truly a man who understood God’s love.

Galatians 2:20 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

When we become a Christian we get baptized by full submersion in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. When I baptized my youngest son, he approached me and said that he was ready to get “bath-tized“.   All of my children freely made that choice.  When we finally accept God’s love and forgiveness, it’s time for each of us to look into the heavens and return the great love that God has given to us.

1 John 4:19 – We love him, because he first loved us.

To truly love God in return, is to keep His commandments and they are not grievous.  How many of you have had a boss in the world who gave you a simple list of a few things to do during the workday, but you knew that you would have them done quickly and easily.  He made it easy for you.  How many of you have had a dad who gave you a list of a few things to do after school each day but they were simple things that wouldn’t take very much time. He made it easy for you.  The commandments of God are not grievous.

Matt 11:28-30  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

A commandment is an authoritative order  to be obeyed.

Matt 22:35-40 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,  Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Did you notice that in both of these commandments, the rule is to love others?  How grievous is that?  Even the Apostle wrote to the church and said that he had written to them in a few words.  There are commands in the New Testament by God but when it comes down to it, they are not grievous.  They are there to show us how to love Him and one another. How grievous is that?

Walking In love is far easier, than picking up…..

……Frozen Shingles

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

tlkjbc.com♥️

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

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

Many years ago I was sitting at home having lunch with my family when I got a phone call. It was somebody I knew that worked out at the landfill.  He told me he had a small pile of scrap iron that he wanted to get rid of because it was in the way, and he wanted to show me something else as long as I was there. He said…” Eric, you’ve got to see this.” Andrew and I finished up eating our lunch and off to the dump we went with a small load of trash.

When we arrived we pulled over by the scrap pile.  Before we even started to get loaded up, our friend said ” Come take a look at this.” He walked us over to one of the big dumpsters and slowly flipped open the lid. It was almost completely full to the top with large black trash bags. He reached inside the dumpster and grabbed a single bag that was sitting right on top and told me to open it up.  

When I gazed inside I couldn’t believe what I had found.  Inside that trash bag was the aroma of freshly laundered and pressed clothes, including pants and t-shirts and piles of socks, not to mention other numerous clothing items. They all looked like they had just come from the store.  These were nice newer items of all different sizes.  I told him that I was shocked that someone would throw these usable items away. He looked at me and said,…

” it’s not just that one bag…. the entire dumpster is filled with them.”

this reminds me of the Christian Life.

The Bible gives severe warnings for the rich and when I looked into that dumpster there’s no way a poor man could have ever done this. Instead of helping somebody out in need, they callously threw them into a dumpster instead, eventually to be buried underground in a landfill. God Is watching to see how you use the things that he has given you

Matt 25:14-30

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

A talent is a very large sum of money.  This parable is about the misuse of the finances that God had given him.  When I think about the thousands of clothes in that dumpster I think about somebody who had purchased those items and simply threw them away to be buried in the ground.

There’s so much waste that goes on in the world each day that it’s absolutely shameful. There’s piles of food that are thrown in the dumpster a few hours after its cooked.  There are buildings and houses that are empty that could help house people who don’t have anything to live in. There are items that are fully functional that are thrown in the garbage that could be given to somebody who could use it.

Many years ago I worked at a job in a huge warehouse as a foreman for a work crew with disabilities.  Each day a few garbage trucks would drive in and dump large loads on a conveyor that carried everything upstairs to another conveyor.  Upstairs all of the workers would go through the garbage and remove anything that was usable.  Granted some of it was garbage but there were a lot of items that were completely functional.  

God Is watching to see how faithful you are with the things that he has given you.  In the church the rich were supposed to help out the poor.

James 2:14-17

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

One really needs to consider this passage before throwing usable things away. There are always people who are poor in this world that you can find to help in your own neighborhoods.  I’m not talking about selling something to make another dollar. If it truly holds no inherent value to you, give it to somebody in the name of Jesus. When you give it to others and tell them it’s in the name of Jesus I believe God will reward you.  God is love and we can show our love to the poor in our area by helping them in their physical needs.

Federal, state and the county obviously have programs to help the poor and I know they are completely overburdened.  What I’m talking about is thinking about the poor who live close by you that you can assist and help with what God has blessed you with. Imagine if everybody did that. We can love others with our possessions and our finances if we simply think about them and reach out to their needs. Please consider this the next time you remember what was in…….

…….Dumpster #5

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

tlkjbc.com♥️

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

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

About 15 years ago our family was traveling through Minnesota. It was starting to get late in the afternoon so we decided to pull into a campground and set up our tents on that beautiful fall day.  After eating a few snacks out of the cooler, we decided to stretch our legs after the long drive and take a walk around the campground. As we walked I almost slipped on something that was on the ground. I leaned over and picked it up and realized that it was a walnut that had fallen out of the trees. I like eating nuts, everything from peanuts to sunflower seeds. When we were kids I can always remember having a big bowl of nuts on the table during the holidays.  

Since I’m the kind of person who really doesn’t like to waste anything, we grabbed everything that we had available to collect the nuts with.  They were all over the place and it was the first time I had ever picked up walnuts right off of the ground.  I think we picked up about 6 bushel and packed the trunk of the car with them. We were very excited when we got back home at the thought of being able to sit down and eat a bunch of them, but getting the nut out of the shell was a lot tougher than what we thought it would be.

It’s been claimed that it takes about three hundred pounds of pressure to open a macadamia nut. Walnuts are not as hard but it’s a struggle just the same.  We found ourselves sitting by the wood stove that winter with a hammer breaking them on the cement until we had a small bowl to eat each day.  I think those walnuts lasted us all winter because they weren’t easy to open as we thought they would be.  They sure were a hard nut to crack.

This reminds me of the Christian Life.

God wants our hearts to be broken and contrite before Him, but just like those walnut shells, some people have a hard heart to break open.  There are some people who refuse to feel sorry for the things that they have done to God and others. They refuse to apologize and are not filled with any remorse.  This is caused by pride and the hardness of their hearts.

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

The definition for “hard” is when something is solid, firm and rigid.  It is not easily broken, bent or pierced. When you do something that is unloving and unkind to God and others, a person’s heart should be convicted enough to apologize for what they’ve done so that they can be reconciled.  The scriptures teach us that we’re supposed to be tenderhearted. We’re supposed to be filled with mercy and grace towards each other. When you hurt others you should feel regret inside of your heart for what you have done instead of having an impenitent hard heart.

Psalms 95:8 – Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

An impenitent heart only leads to sin.

Proverbs 28:14 – Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

When a person is impenitent it means that they don’t feel any shame or regret about their actions or their attitudes towards others. They don’t have any remorse for what they have done. Shame is truly a painful feeling of humiliation or distress that is caused by consciousness of doing the wrong thing or foolish behavior. It is an unpleasant feeling caused by the awareness of guilt, fault or failure.  People who are hard-hearted don’t possess these feelings.  Their hearts are closed off, surrounded by a brick wall in their own mind.  Instead of tenderness their conscience is seared.

Truly if somebody professes to be a Christian they’re going to have feelings of regret for hurting others.  Regret is a  feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened or been done.  It is the result of having godly sorrow.

2 Cor 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Ps 38:18 “For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.”

Sorry means to express regret, remorse, or sorrow.

Luke 18 ¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. ¹² I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. ¹³ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Someone who is contrite is penitent or feels regret or sorrow, especially for one’s own actions.  They are apologetic.  The Lord draws nigh into those who are filled with this quality.

Psalms 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Isaiah 66:2 – For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Somebody who is impenitent has no remorse or regret.  If you truly repent you feel regret or sorrow about something you have done wrong to somebody else. Remorse means to have deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed. Regret is  a feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened or been done.  It’s wishing it had never happened in the first place. To truly have these feelings a person’s heart needs to break.  They need to first come to God with brokenness and then reconcile with others that they have wronged.  Just like people store money in a savings account each and every day, a person with a hard and impenitent heart is only storing up for themselves God’s wrath.  

Sometimes it takes a spiritual hammer on the heart of the impenitent, when they become a tough nut to crack. I’m reminded of this, whenever I think about that day, walking underneath…..

……The Walnut Trees

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

We apologize but we are having severe difficulty with internet this weekend. We are working on our studies offline but won’t be able to publish them until we get this figured out. We’ll keep you up to date. Sorry for any inconvenience

Andrew & Eric❤