Good morning and welcome in today. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture from Romans chapter 8 before we do that I wanted to ask you a question.

Have you ever been in high school and seen a couple people who are so close to each other that as much as people tried to come in between them, nothing could. They were completely inseparable.

No matter what events happened in their lives, they would not allow anything to come in between their friendship.

Inseparable means incapable of being separated or disjoined. It’s being always together and intimate.

That is the way that God loves us and nothing can get in between His love for us no matter how hard people may try. His love is constant and neverending like the glowing fire of the sun.

Rom 8:35-39

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[Christs love for us is an unending, undying love. God is love, and His love is constant and eternal.]

Col 3:14-15

¹⁴ And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

[God’s love for us is a bond of perfectness which cannot be pulled apart.]

Ephesians 2:4-7 – But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

The definition of separate is to pull apart, disconnect or divide.

You know, Andrew and I have done a lot of scrap iron over the years. Everything from trucks to Skidders, tractors and cars. One thing I’ve learned is how strong it is. Try taking a 1 inch thick piece of prep iron sometime and attempting to rip it in half with your bare hands. I know that God’s love for each of us is just as strong as that Steel.

1 John 4:9-10 – In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Jeremiah 31:3 – The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. 

Psalms 103:17 – But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

Like that thick piece of Steel, nothing can separate us from the love that God has for us…

……and it’s Everlasting to Everlasting!

Think about those things today and Lord willing we will talk to you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.♥️

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” Ephesians 4:14

It has been said that you learn more as a child than at any other point in your life. From the time that you are born until you are fully grown, you learn to walk, eat, talk, write, you learn much information in school, etc. During that time, a child’s mind is young and pliable, and can be taught many things, including some things that might not be good or true.

Something that I was taught as a young child was to not talk to strangers. As a child, your mind does not always “pick up” on things that an adult might. One specific example is the myth of “Santa Claus.” Millions of children all over the world believe that there is a man who travels the entire world in a night, bringing presents and gifts to those who have been good that year. But why do they believe this lie, this myth? Did they just come up with this information themselves? No, it was taught to them by someone that they put their trust in.

I was taught at a young age that this was all a completely made up story, so I knew the truth. But other children who I used to play with had believed this lie, and even when I tried to tell them that it was all fake, they would not believe me. They had been taught a lie, and wouldn’t believe the truth.

As children, you are not always wise enough to discern when someone is being genuine or truthful or not. I was always given the example of if someone pulled up to you in a car and told you that they would give you a bunch of candy if you got in with them to run away and yell as loud as you could. Because someone without this instruction might get into that car with them and might be harmed.

We need to be strong in the word of God, trained up so that we will know the truth from a lie. Through the scriptures, we know the truth of the creation of the world, and how God created the earth in six days, and rested on the seventh. We know that this is the truth, and that the “theory” that the world teaches is a complete lie.

We know that when someone teaches something that doesn’t agree with scripture, that we always take the word of God over the word of someone else. 

One of the best examples is what happened between the serpent and Eve in the garden of Eden. Eve knew that God had commanded them to not eat of the fruit of the tree, but the serpent “beguiled” Eve, and caused her to believe something that was not true. (Genesis 3:13) 

That is something that Paul wrote in Colossians to the church, warning them to beware of the philosophy and teachings of the world. 

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition fo men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8

Again, in Romans, Paul wrote a letter warning the brethren to make note of people who caused divisions in the church and taught things that were not in agreement with the things which they had learned.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18

We need to continually study God’s Word and build up our knowledge in it, so that we know truth from lies. When we hear something that doesn’t agree with the Bible, we will know it immediately. We won’t be swayed and turned away from the truth found inside, and we will stay firm in our faith.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

The Bible teaches that the devil is cunning and craft and will try to turn people away from God. In the end, someone will rise up, and proclaim that he is God. He will even perform miracles, and do everything that he can to try to convince the world, but it will be the anti-Christ. 

Because we know that every eye shall see Jesus in the air when He returns, that whoever proclaims themselves to be God, is not. We will not be deceived and made to believe that lie because we are strong in our faith, and know the truth found in the Bible.

Just as a parent teaches their child to not put their trust in strangers, we need to beware, and “try the spirits” as John wrote.

“Belove, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:…” 1 John 4:1

Stay strong in the Word, and don’t let anyone deceive you. Read your Bible as much as you can, and you will know the truth.

In Christ,

Andrew

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

Many years ago, I took a shop class as an elective. I think I did it to try to avoid stressing educational things like algebra, which to me if I failed, I would not graduate high school. It was not a lack of my algebra teacher’s instuction because he tried to help me, it’s just that certain things in this world were too hard for me to grasp.

I wasn’t a carpenter by nature as other gentlemen are, but was taught of them and instructed by them how to do amazing things with a few pieces of wood.

In my personal life it has always amazed me how talented some people are. It’s always fascinated me how someone can take a small item of wood and a with a few other items can turn it into something incredible. They are like a wife who turns the ingredients that she has been given into something delicious and wonderful.

When I was in high school, I spent 3 months in wood shop building an octagonal nightstand. It actually turned out handsome and functional and served my purposes for many years, thanks to the teacher.

As far as I can remember, the tabletop was 2 different kinds of wood, I think one was pine, and the other was cedar.

There was a lot of gluing involved to join these two pieces of wood together, but eventually they were permanently joined and could not be pulled apart.

I had this nightstand as much as I can recollect for almost 20 years.

For many years I would look at those pieces of wood on that table like inseperable friends. I would set my alarm clock on it, or a glass of water, but each day that went by, they remained by each others side.

Those two pieces of wood in that nightstand were joined together and could not be pulled apart and that is what a marriage is like.

When a man and a woman get married and have sexual relationships with each other, they become one flesh. They are no longer two but become one with each other.

Genesis 2:24 – Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Ephesians 5:31 – For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

When couples get married, their bodies are yoked with each other. They become one flesh. A married man and a woman share completely different duties at home and in society, but when and if you decide to get married, you do not want to enter into that marriage bond until you have seriously thought through about what you are committing yourself to. The woman becomes the forever soulmate of her husband, to serve and obey Him in everything. The husband, must never leave her or forsake her.

A husband must be the edification of undying and loyal affection to his marriage. Isn’t that truly what Jesus does for each of us in the church? He waits for each of us to apologize and to return home to Him.

He wants to forgive each of us of our sins, but what need to do is admit our faults. He wants to cleanse us and forgive us of any wrongdoing that we have committed. God does not want to punish us as much as He desires to forgive us. The reason why is because God cares for us.

Think about having two separate ingredients like milk and chocolate syrup. When you decide to mix the two together, the two ingredients become one, they become chocolate milk. In a marriage your bodies are joined together.

Matthew 19:3-8

³ The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

⁴ And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

⁵ And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

⁶ Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

⁷ They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

⁸ He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

A Christian woman is supposed to treat her husband as she would the Lord Jesus. Can you imagine divorcing the Lord Jesus Christ from your life? Moses only wrote the precept about divorce because of the hardness of people’s hearts otherwise there would have been no precept needed. We are commanded to simply love one another.

A man and wife should not be separated because they are one flesh. Like my wood project, they become joined in a permanent bond.

I think that’s where I’m going to stop for right now but Lord willing we will talk some more tomorrow. Till then,bye bye everyone.♥️

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

Today we are going to study what it means to keep Jesus first in our lives, but first I have a few examples to help us understand what it means to be first.

At the end of a race, there are usually some kind of medals or trophies awarded to the individual who places in third, second, or first place. Obvioiusly, the person who finishes “first” finished before all the others.

Sometimes they might even have a podium for the three people to stand on, starting with the third place on one, then you have the second place slightly higher, and then finally you have the first place podium the highest of all, above all the others.

If you had a list of things to do and only a certain amount of time to do it in, which things would you start with? You would probably start with the most important tasks first, and complete them before any of the other things on your list.

Think of it like this: You wake up in the morning and look at the list of errands that you need to get done that day. Maybe you need to go to the grocery store to get food, grab a few things at a different store, and pick up your mail from the post office. So you get into your car and leave home, but you notice that your gas tank is nearly empty. What should you do? Should you continue to complete your errand list, or should you first stop and fill up your gas tank? Right then and there, you need to have fuel in your car if you want to do the other things. It becomes first and more important than every other thing on your list, because if you run out of fuel, you will not be able to get to those other destinations.

That is exactly how we need to treat the things of God. Before any action that we do, we need to put the things of God first. As Christians, God and His teachings are the most important things that need to come before anything and everything else. He needs to come first.

Which commandment did Jesus say was the first commandment?

“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.” Matthew 22:37-38

Before all of the other nine commandments is the commandent to love God. God is first.

The word “first” means, obviously, “before anything else” but it also means “most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; or highest.”

The kingdom of God and the teachings of Christ need to come before anything else in every part of our lives. They need to be put in a place of the highest importance, over all other things. 

When we place God first in our life, it means that we look to Him to guide our life over anyone or anything else. 

When Jesus fed the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish, what did He do before the people ate? Jesus looked up to Heaven, and blessed the food. What should we do before we eat? We should ask the Lord to bless our meal and give thanks to Him for it, because it is He who provided all things for us to eat.

Someone who doesn’t put God first won’t thank Him before they eat, because food is more important to them than God. As Paul wrote in Philippians, their god is their belly.

“Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” Philippians 3:19

And even far more than just when we eat a meal; whatever we do in our life, we need to ask ourselves, What would Jesus do? If we do this before every decision that we make in life, we will be putting Him first. Would Jesus help an encumbered person open a door? How would He treat someone who did wrong to Him? How would Jesus show love towards others? If someone was sorry and repentant for something they did wrong, would Jesus forgive them? (Of course He would!)

Without Christ in a person’s life, a person will do whatever they feel like doing, but as Christians, we need to do what Jesus wants us to do. Day by day, a pattern of good works, and an example to others of how we need to live.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

What are the first six letters in the word Christian? C-H-R-I-S-T. Christ-ians-followers of Christ. He is first, and we need to keep Him first.

In Christ,

Andrew

Good morning and welcome in today. Today we are going to look at some Scripture from hebrews 11 but before we do that i wanted to to tell you a little story.

How many times in your life have you gone looking for something? Maybe you work at a job all week and then go looking for your paycheck in the mailbox. Maybe you get up each morning to go find a cold glass of milk in the refrigerator. Have you ever went and searched for items that were buried underground with a metal detector? Think about all the numerous ships that are sunk on the ocean floor that are filled with things that people go looking for.

To seek is to to search for something or try to find and obtain it. We all go looking in life for something that we really don’t need….don,t we? We are carnal yet God is Divine. We seek after stupid stuff that doest really help or improve our lives. Many things that I searched after in this life proved completely fruitless and unimportant. God’s word is different,

A lot of hunters up here in Minnesota go climb up In a cold tree stand each fall in search of a nice buck. Others spend many weeks baiting their bait stations in order to catch a black bear. What are you diligently seeking after?

Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

How diligently do you seek after something? Have you ever lost your wallet and spent the afternoon looking for it?

Luke 15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

God wants us to go seeking after Him. He wants to reward our efforts as well.

Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you

God wants to reward us but it requires a diligent heart.

Having diligence is having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties. It is a constant effort to accomplish something and being attentive and persistent in a goal. It requires will power, flexibility, strength of character, determination and a desire to succeed at all costs.

Deuteronomy 4:29 – But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

I have always taught my family that God is a rewarder. A reward is to make a gift of something to (someone) in recognition of their services, efforts, or achievements. A reward is something given or received in return or recompense for service, merit, hardship, etc. When we seek Him and show Him how much we love Him, He repays that.

Proverbs 8:17 – I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

To seek is to search for something or try to find or obtain something. Whatever you go looking for with a diligent heart, you will find it, it just comes down to what you are looking for.

Matthew 7:7-8 – Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 

We need to seek after Jesus. God is divine and immortal love, and the more we seek Him, the more love we will be filled up with. All of us need more love and you will find it in Christ when we go looking for Him.

1 Chronicles 16:11 – Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

God’s love for this world is absolutely incredible, sending His precious only begotten Son to die and suffer for our sinful condition. In the Lord Jesus is mercy, forgiveness, and grace to cover our sins. Forgiveness is waiting, we just need to seek Him.

lamentations 3:25 – The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

Isaiah 55:6-7 – Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Here is a passage about a man with a seeking heart. Has a sinner, but like the Apostle Paul, he understood the treasures of Gods grace.

Luke 18:10-14

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.

The seeking heart of the publican was rewarded by God with forgiveness.

When you understand that we are all sinful in the eyes of God you can be forgiven by Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 – And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Seeking is rewarded.

Psalms 119:10 – With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

James 4:8 – Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

God doesn’t leave those who seek Him

Psalms 40:16 – Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

Psalms 119:2 – Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Psalms 9:10 – And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek theel.

Thats where I,m going to stop for right now, but Lord Willing i will talk to you some more tommorow. Till Then, bye bye everyone.

I used to have to take timed tests in school, where you had a certain amount of time to complete all of the questions. At the start of the test we were told how much time we would have to complete it all, and once the timer started, we needed to get right to work so that we would be finished before the time was up.

Personally, I didn’t have any trouble finishing before the time was up, but there was almost always someone who didn’t complete the whole test in time. Maybe they got lost in thought, or got distracted by something and couldn’t complete it, but once the time was over, everyone had to turn in their tests, whether they were ready or not. We all had the opportunity to do what had been given us, but not everyone used their time wisely and finished.

Maybe you have played “hide and seek” when you were younger. As you probably know, there is one person called the “seeker” and the rest are the “hiders.” After agreeing on a set amount of time, the “seeker” will begin to count up to the set number, and the “hiders” need to find a spot to hide in that amount of time. “Ready or not, here I come!” the seeker will yell as the counting stops. If the “hiders” haven’t found a spot to hide in that amount of time, they will be found, and “lose.” They had time to prepare and hide, but those who wasted their time won’t be ready.

When a home or business is robbed by a thief, does the thief let them know in advance at what time he will break in? “At 2 A.M. I am going to break in and rob your safe.” Do they do that? Obviously not. They will come at a time unannounced, break in, take what they can, and leave. 

Neither do we know when the Lord is going to return, or even which day will be our last. We have been left information in the Holy Scriptures to let us know when the time is getting close, but we do not know the exact day or time.

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4

Because of this, we need to be ready now. Are you ready now to be with the Lord? Are you living the way that you should be right now? Are you loving your neighbor as yourself, right now?

There is no time to waste. There can be no putting it off until “tomorrow” or “sometime” or “when I get around to it.” Now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

What if you got up out of your bed tomorrow morning and you tripped, fell, broke your neck and died? Would you be ready at that moment to meet the Lord? Or are there things that you wish you would have changed in your life?

Only God the Father knows when that time will be, and that is why we need to be ready right now. That is the choice we need to make right now, are we ready or not?

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 

But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 

And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 

Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 

But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:36-44

If we want to spend eternity in heaven, we need to use the short time that we have wisely, in His service, and live according to His word. Just a short amount of time, like a candle that is lit and blown out, that is our life. It is written in 2 Peter 3 that 1000 years is as a day unto the Lord and a day as a 1000 years.

The Lord is eternal, without beginning or end. This is something that our minds cannot comprehend because everything on earth has its beginning and its end. Everything starts and stops, everything is born and dies, everything created can be destroyed. Nothing of the earth can last forever.

People can try to keep strict diets and eat healthy, they can try to “cryofreeze” their bodies to try to live longer, they can do all sorts of things in an effort to try to prolong their life, but there is only one way to live forever. There is only one Person who can grant everlasting life. Jesus.

If you haven’t already, begin preparing yourself today and ask yourself, “Am I living my life for Christ? What things do I need to change so that I am not sinning against God or others? Am I doing everything that I should be doing and what things do I need to change?” 

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14

Time on earth is short. Are you ready?

In Christ,

Andrew

Good morning and welcome in today. Today we are going to look at a passage of Scripture from James 3 but before we do that I want to tell you a story.

For many years when Andrew was very young, he would sit outside on a chair. He enjoyed watching the birds, especially the chickadees. One day he had a complete stranger show up, a red squirrel. Andrew started to feed him some snacks until he had completely tamed him. The Squirrel eventually sat on his shoulder, and Andrew held him in his hand. It wasn’t long after that the squirrel had some friends show up. Andrew eventually tamed them as well. When I looked outside, I could watch as Andrew played with a bunch of squirrels, who at one time were unruly, but now had become submissive and obedient to his will and command.

Andrew had learned how to control a wild creature. Our tongue is just as wild. It needs to be tamed and controlled like my son’s squirrels.

The control if a tongue is a very powerful thing. It is something that reveals control and temperance in somebodys life.

James 3:1-18. My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

² For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

The definition of a bridle is a device used to control an animal, such as the headgear used to control a horse. 

Offend means to sin against others. It is by the mouth that we can sin against others. If you are capable of controlling speech, you can control everything else in your body.

³ Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

Andrew and I like to sail, and when I read this verse it always reminds me of the small rudder on our sailboat. It is very small but turns the boat perfectly in the heaviest of wind.

⁴ Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Our tongue is very small, but can do very damaging and hurtful things to others. It can be a small little fire that developes into a huge forest fire.

⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

When you defile something, it means to go against love.

⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

James teaches that the tongue is evil and filled with poison. It’s like the forked tongue on a snake. We need God’s help to tame it.

⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

¹³ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

¹⁴ But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

¹⁵ This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

¹⁶ For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

The tongue is something that needs to be controlled.

Proverbs 21:23 – Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Ephesians 4:29 – Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Proverbs 15:1 – A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

I thinks that’s where I will stop for today, but Lord willing we will talk some more tommorrow. Till then, bye bye everyone.

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

When I was a very young child we used to keep a yellow saucer on the beach. I grew up on a lake and spent the majority of my summer cutting lawn, swimming or sailing. I have always been grateful to cool off on hot summer days. On our beach, we had a saucer that was made out of 3/4 plywood and had been cut into a 4 foot circle to cover up a tube where we kept our toys, like a toychest. After we were done playing each day, we would put everything in the large innertube and cover it up.

On calm evenings, when their wasn’t any waves on our little bay, we would pull that yellow disk behind our boat. We had a 40hp Mercury that would sling us around our little bay like an astronaut going around the moon. I sometimes wonder what the g-force actually was because you could hardly hold onto the tow rope as you got slung around the dark side of the moon.

There was only 1 inch of clearance on the front of the saucer to the water as you rode it and if the tip went under the water you were a goner. If you did, the saucer plunged immediately into the water and you would bounce on the surface 5-10 times until finally falling in. I could only ride a few times because when you were in a slingshot and fell off, your entire body hurt and would suffer. You would feel the consequences for what you did many days later.

But what is it about the human nature that causes you to get back on it again?

I remember being pounded over and over again mercilessly by the water. Many times I felt like a rock that a child skips across the water.

When I think back, the water was completely unmerciful to me. Granted,I chose to get on that saucer but the path I chose would eventually lead me to getting pounded. We choose our destiny and things that are not beneficial to us. What is it about our sinful nature that causes us to pound ourselves over and over again?

Rom 7:14-21

¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

¹⁵ For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

¹⁶ If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

¹⁷ Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

¹⁹ For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

²⁰ Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

²¹ I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Many years ago I was asked to oversee a child for a school. He was a big handful for anyone in that school. He sent me home with black eyes and almost broke my nose. I eventually taught him how to love the other children. Through all of his rebellion, I loved him as I continue to today. I always remembered that God loves us while we were yet sinners.

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

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.

Each of us has to deal with the sinful nature. It doesn’t matter if you are a fisherman, a ruler, or even a king or president. We all make mistakes, but this is the reason why Jesus Christ came into this world. Because God is so forgiving with us, I would hope that we could be forgiving with each other. Forgiveness is a concept that is very difficult for the world to understand because it is a quality that is truly divine. We are mere humans, that truly need to understand what Jesus did for us at the cross. We are mortal, while God’s love is immortal. Jesus was pounded to a cross, not for His sins, but because of the sins of others.

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.

God doesn’t want any of us to go to hell. That is the truth. He wants to save each and every one of us.

2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

As Pilate, ceasar, or magistrates, we all fall short of obedience to Christ. Thank God for mercy and forgiveness because without it we would all lose our souls and salvation.

The God of all creation teaches us to be merciful and forgiving with each other. It’s very easy to go to the human nature and fight with others, but what do you choose to do? Will you choose to love others? Will you choose to show mercy to others as God has shown mercy you you?

Think about those things for today and Lord willing we will talk to you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye eveyone💓

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

Good morning and welcome in today. Today we’re going to take a look at some scripture from 1st John chapter 5 but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.

Many years when Andrew was very young I was coming back from a job down by Duluth. It was kind of a long drive and I eventually pulled over by a gas station to take a break and get a can of pop. While I was fueling my van, I happened to notice that somebody had a trailer that they were selling things out of. I decided to go over and take a look and saw that they were selling battery operated cars that had been refurbished. These are the ones that little kids ride in, that you can buy at a commercial box store. I took half my paycheck that I had made that weekend and bought him one.

He had so much fun on that thing, and drove it around our lake when we went on walks. He drove it when my wife and I went on bike rides. Up and down the driveway and down the back alley he went. He drove that car all over the place and had an absolute blast with it all summer long. It was a free gift I got him, just because I love him.

Have you ever had something that was freely given to you before? Maybe someone gave you a wedding present or birthday gifts. Maybe your dad bought you a car when you graduated from high school. Have you ever been at a rummage sale when they decided later in the afternoon that everything was free for those who wanted to take it?

When you give something it means to freely transfer the possession of something to someone or to freely hand over. When something is free it is of no cost to you. Someone else took care of it and simply gave it to you.

God wants to give us the gift of eternal life through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

When you give it means to turn over the possession or control of to someone without cost or exchange; as a gift. In Christ Jesus we have grace and forgiveness with God. It is our sinful condition that pays out death, but because of God’s love and grace, we can inherit life through the blood of Christ that He shed at the cross. Salvation is not by our works, but by the works of Christ.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Eternal life is in Christ Jesus. We have that promise that we can hold on to. A promise is to assure someone that one will definitely do, give, or arrange something; undertake or declare that something will happen.

1 John 2:25 – And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

God wants each of us to be in heaven with Him someday and has provided us with Jesus so that we can get there. He wants all men to come to repentance.

John 6:47 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

If you truly believe in Jesus with your heart, you will believe in the forgiveness of God. Forgiveness is something that we cannot earn, we simply need to come forth and receive it. Being forgiven with God through Christ is the road to salvation.

John 6:54 – Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

In order to inherit eternity, we must partake of Holy Communion. There are people who have communion today who really don’t believe in their hearts that they are partaking of Christ Jesus. In communion Jesus is present in physical form on the altar. Communion is a miracle of God because He manifests Himself to us in physical form so that we can partake of His unending life.

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.

To believe means to be persuaded of the truth or existence of:

Jesus is the Saviour that God sent to this world as an atonement for our sinful condition. Salvation can only be attained through faith in Him. He is the one door that leads to eternal life.

John 5:24 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Eternal life is a gift from God. All of us on the face of the Earth have sinned but God grants us forgiveness and a path back to himself, and it’s found in Christ. We have all done something wrong in each of our lives, but God’s mercy can wash all of our sins away. Jesus is the most precious gift that we could ever be given.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Forgiveness in Christ is the only way to life eternal.

1 John 5:20 – And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Jesus lives eternally because He is God. To partake of Him in communion is to partake of eternal life.

John 6:51 – I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

God wants us to live forever with Him, but we must come to His Son. He cares for us, but wants us all to believe in His beloved Son Jesus.

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Salvation is a gift. It’s found through faith in Christ. Have you accepted God’s gift for you?

think about those things for today and Lord willing we will talk tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everyone.💓

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Philippians 2:2

What controls the functions of the body? Your brain. Your brain is the central core that sends signals throughout the whole body to make different parts do their job. If you see an apple on the counter, your brain sends the signal to your arms and fingers to reach out and grasp that fruit, and bring it to your mouth so that you can eat it.

The same with your legs and feet. When you saw that fruit across the room, your brain sent that signal and caused your legs and feet to start to move so that your arms and fingers could do their function.

Arms, hand, fingers, legs, feet, toes, mouth- all these things are different in their own way, and have their own functions, but they are all connected to the same brain which controls them all. Each different, but all apart of the one same body and working together perfectly.

But lets say for a moment that when your brain sent a signal for your legs to start walking towards the apple, that instead of doing their function of carrying your body towards the fruit, they instead carried you away from it. Your legs in a way would not be in the same “spirit” as the rest of your body. They are doing something completely different than what they should be doing.

Similarly, what is the controlling force for a Christian? The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides and controls a Christian to do the things of God. When the Spirit enters a person’s soul, they should be in unity with other Christians as well. No fighting, no hatred towards your brothers or sisters in the faith. No bickering or backbiting, but instead filled with love, kindness, and joy.

If someone is filled with the Spirit, it is the same Spirit that the Lord Jesus is filled with. The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of love. God is love, and someone filled with that Spirit will be filled with the love that Jesus has shown the world. Someone filled with the Spirit will show love, not hate. It will forgive others, not refuse forgiveness.

This is how everyone in the church needs to be: united in the Spirit of Christ. All believing the same thing.

The word unity means “oneness; the state or fact of being one undivided entity.” Simply put, unity is agreement in totality. There is no disagreement at all.

Just as your whole body will work together in unity to get that apple, Christians need to be of the same mind of unity, united in the Spirit.

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12

Over and over again it is written in the New Testament that we need to be of one mind, of the same Spirit. We need to all believe the same thing. 

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” Philippians 1:27

“Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11

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

Be of one mind. United under the teachings of Christ and His apostles.

In Christ,

Andrew