Friday, February 14, 2025

The Promise of His Coming

The Promise of His Coming 
by David Brenneman 

"In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:2-6
Was looking back over the journal entries of mine from back in 2019 crossing over into 2020. An amazing time in my life.   

Throughout some posts my eagerness for the return of Jesus Christ is easily seen. 

Did I miss something that His return didn't happen? No. Nothing was missed...the anticipation remains. 

Jesus said we should be excited about His return, should live in anticipation of that day.  

Some, even today, say "Where is promise of His coming? Things are going on just as they always have! You're out of your mind to put your life in Christ!"

"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:3-13.

"The call to follow Jesus takes priority over everything (Luke 9:57-60)" Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible notes. 

Your life is more than paying bills or the next high you get from some games that you watch.  

You have a job to do in the Lord that's for you to be doing until either you are called home to Heaven or the Rapture of the Church takes place. 

School is never out of session in learning from the Holy Spirit. The marathon has no end until we cross the finish line of the entrance to Heaven.   

If you must wear out things in this world...would you count your Bible among those?

Would you count the carpet under your knees where you go to pray to your Father in Heaven?

Would you count the cost of following Jesus or is it something you just don't think about?

It's on us to attend classes with the Spirit of God daily. Not weekly but rather daily. 

So the big question is: what are you doing skipping classes to be anywhere else but learning with the Spirit of God? Why is it something you might be trying to cram in your day? Why would you think so little of learning more about your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ? Why? Because we have a sin nature that abhors the Spirit of God within us. Why? Because the god of this world wants to be the god of your life regardless of whether you are saved or not. 

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds." Matthew 16:25-27.

What would your deeds look like if you had to review them today? 

Would your deeds out of honor and respect for all that Jesus did for you be converted to music...would it be a symphony or less than crickets?  

In all those prank/joke books with nothing on the pages be a summation of your track record in living life for your Savior?

What do you think is more important than your life in Christ?

It's been an eye-opening experience in these opening weeks of 2025. I can say that while I haven't watched television in years still other things occupied my time. But when I was intentional about putting more time in my Bibles...I have missed that other stuff even less than I thought I would. 

Are you going to stand ashamed before Jesus when your life's been sifted for what you did for Him for all He did in dying, and rising from the dead to pay for your sins?

If you take this as a guilt trip...good. Have a good conversation with Jesus about it before you want to make a case with me about your feelings on the matter. The Spirit brings convictions to people.  

Your claims of what you've earned or deserve in your life are meaningless when compared to being brutally beaten, whipped, scourged, nailed to a cross forced to carry the manner of your pending death on your back. Being crucified and enduring the deaths of every single person will will ever have lived. Taking on the penalty of death upon Himself for the sins of all mankind. Rising from the dead 3 days later. 

Sorry all responses are lame excuses in comparison for not doing more to live for Jesus for those who are saved and called according to His purpose.  

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:23-25.

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2.

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20.
"For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." Colossians 1:9-12.

Lastly...

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16.

We don't do what we do to earn our sanctification or earn our salvation. The Spirit sanctifies. Jesus paid it all...all to Him I owe...sin had left a crimson stain...He washed it white as snow.  

People cry out for second chances. You are given another one every single morning.  

To walk along side your Savior and Lord or to run off and do your own thing.  

Jesus is GOING to keep His promise and return for His Church. 

Will you be caught or be ready by Him?

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Over Your Everything Too

Over Your Everything Too
by David Brenneman 

"Then a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”
Matthew 8:19-22.

To the scribe who pledged to follow Jesus wherever He went, Jesus explained that inconvenience and self-denial will be the experience of those who follow Him. The disciple who wanted to bury his father before following Jesus was actually saying "Lord, I will follow You after my father dies." Jesus' response--Let the dead bury their own dead -- means, "let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead." The call to follow Jesus takes priority over everything (Luke 9:57-60). - Dr. David Jeremiah study Bible.

That last sentence from Dr. David Jeremiah's notes really struck a chord.  

Does the call of Jesus in your life really take priority over everything you do or think about?

Would it take priority over your ideas of entertainment that have nothing to do with your walk with Jesus?

Would it take priority?

Would you turn aside from your wants and desires simply because you got the prompting of the Spirit to do so? 

Easy enough to say yes to, much harder in practice. I've shared Dr. Charles Stanley's testimony on this with his camera equipment. Of how he was prompted to sell it. To let go of it. 

Would you be sensitive enough to the Spirit of God to obey in anything and everything you're being told to do?

We can easily, and do, start with Jesus by saying "But Jesus...not that..." an you can fill in the blank. 

We can come up with really good reasons to be busy doing other things than think about what He's pointing to in our lives.  

In Christ we are to live life in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. If your works include fitting in with the world then you're going around life wearing old filthy rags. The aroma of the bread of life in Christ Jesus isn't with you. Literally your stink is as bad as the world in which you live.   

To be holy is to be called out. Separate. Distinctively different.

Nobody in any of the Temples needed an explanation of what fragrances they were smelling. They knew what was being offered to the Lord by way of the frankincense. 

Do you hold on tightly to your life so much so that you're really of no Heavenly good?  

Jesus said: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:37-39.

That cross He bore for us was huge n took everything within Him to carry. Nothing else could be carried while the weight of that was upon Him.

"But I enjoy those things!" 

In light of how the works you do for your Savior and Lord matter in light of eternity...is holding onto those ideals and things really worth it?

There's many countless things that I could get involved with that would easily bring personal enjoyment but the truth is they won't last.  

Moth, rust and decay claim everything man made. Death claims us all. Energy expended cannot be reclaimed.  

Make your hours, minutes and seconds matter for eternity.  

None of the Disciples brought along anything with them but what was on their backs and feet.  

We live in a world that is ever changing in its creativity towards making silk chains. Creating ways to trap people in anything but a vibrant life in Christ. They see chains and just get used to them rather than to seek to be free of them. 

As bad is generation upon generation people get taught to do the same. Unnecessary peer pressure to conform to these ill-gotten methods of living life. 

Jesus told the 12 to "Follow Me!".

Which meant to learn from Him on how to live life in speech, love and conduct in everything they would do from that moment forward. 

IS Jesus getting your everything?
ARE You living life in Christ the way the Word of God says to or only when it's not conflicting with your personal schedule?  

Anything that you hold too tightly to will turn to ashes. It's just a matter of time. 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. 

Jesus: as for you? You follow Me!

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Only Now at the End...

Only Now at the End...
by David Brenneman 

"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:50-54.

Right there at the end of the crucifixion did some get it, that some understood. 

The global earthquake at the cry of its Creator astonishing millions of people. Some possibly ashamed at what they've been hurling at this Lord and Christ that they participated in crucifying.

Tombs were opened and people arose from the dead...no way possible to contain what had happened by God's enemy. 

History is about to repeat itself. 

Every place that I have worked where I had a workstation computer I have a document saved on the desktop for any to find.

It simply says "Where Am I?"

Jesus promised that there would be another day when at the Father’s bidding it would be time to return and bring home His Bride because all would be made ready. All who would rely on Jesus as their own personal Savior and Lord prior to a date set by His Father will have been accounted for. 

There's a old hymn "When the Roll is Roll is Called Up Yonder". By James M. Black 1893.

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of his resurrection share;
When his chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there. 

When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun;
Let us talk of all his wondrous love and care.
Then when all of life is over and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
Will you be there or be here too stunned at what just happened all over the world that countless world leaders will lie about having occurred?

There's a day fixed by the Father’s own authority is what my Bible says that my Savior says.  

In the book of Genesis we read that Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.  

Do you believe God?  
Do you believe that your life was meant to be something oh so much more than your eyes can see?

I saw an interview with Denzel Washington. Here in his life he's been coming out in talking about his faith in Jesus Christ. Telling all that he wasn't placed here on Earth to be an actor but rather to be a witness of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done in his life. 

It's been amazing that many people I remember seeing in acting or that supposed professional wrestling circuit have come to Christ and aren't ashamed of telling the world. 

It's a wonderful occasion when you see Christ lived out after the battlefield of a game to see both sides coming together for public prayer. 

Will you still resist the knocking at your heart to let Jesus in?

It's always the fool who thinks they have more time. That there's no hurry. My Dear Reader if those are your thoughts...consider that they're hardly original. 

"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up." 2 Peter 3:3-10.

Oh how shocked and blown away people were back then!  

Hollywood could never grasp the magnitude of the world at large.  

Lazarus was a preview of that day. 

Only the power of God in Christ Jesus opened all those graves. Nobody could stop what was happening. Nobody realized the truth until it was too late...and many fell into deception because someone told them it was something else and they believed it. 

Oh the horrors that some who were Jewish leaders must have experienced when people they knew who had recently died suddenly reappeared in their lives again. These people solemnly testifying to them that Jesus Christ is Lord and is the Son of God to these whitewashed tombs as Jesus called them. 

Only then...at the end of the resurrection week did some people get it.  

When Jesus returns again...and hopefully it's really soon...will you be leaving with Him or will you only then believe because of seeing the evidences of the Rapture of the Church?

Will you be like some who possibly cried out to Jesus when these similar events happened over 2,000 years ago? Begging for a second chance at life in Christ?  

You see the key difference between then and now is those people and everyone else between Jesus raising from the dead and now is everyone has the chance to come to Christ for salvation.  

When Jesus comes again...there's not going to be a Holy Week as happened the first time. There will be no build up and a climactic appearance.  

The Bible says that there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We won't be going through the ravages of the judgments to come upon the Earth soon after Jesus comes for His Church. 

Death and destruction is coming. 
Read the book of Revelation. Billions will die several times in the ensuing 7 years. Billions will be pouring into Hell. 

That's the future that Satan's hiding from as many as he can.  

Salvation is free. Salvation in Christ Jesus writes your name in His blood in the book of life. Salvation now guarantees you won't be left behind. Salvation will give you a new life in Christ that begins the moment you ask Him to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.

Please don't hesitate or wait thinking there's more you want to do with your life. 

Jesus said what would it gain you to get the world and yet forfeit your soul? What will you possibly give in exchange for your soul?

Please don't wait for an ending that you absolutely will not, by God's own guarantee, see coming.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, He is going to return. 

That's faster than the speed of light. 

Sadly only at the end of this part of human history will people get it and cry out for Jesus to come back.

My prayer is that you not be one of those people.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

An Hour is Coming

An Hour is Coming...
by David Brenneman 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment." John 5:24-29.

There was exceedingly great joy in Sheol the day Jesus appeared there after dying. At least on the side where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all those who longed for His appearing were. The celebration must have shook the after-life world down there. His pronouncement of Him saying they were now leaving with Him to go to His Heaven probably brought the house down. 

So loud it must have been that the voices of those who rejected Him on Hell's side probably couldn't be heard.

Even those who most recently died must have been stunned to see this same Jesus whom they scorned and mocked standing where He was...oh the horrors they probably now felt.

Then I imagine after some time things settled down and Jesus gave all of them some personal time with Him that He probably addressed those on Hell's side in the same way we read of His words to the living. 

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23.

"Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out." Luke 13:26-28.

"And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” John 19:37.

“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. " Zechariah 12:10.

Very few screams are as penetrating as those of someone who's been rocked to their core. Everything is stripped away and the cry of the heart is heard far and wide by those who hear it. Within the confines of our world the closest is when a parent learns of the death of their child or a close relative or friend at an extremely unexpected time. 

These countless trillions are screaming...some in rage...some in fear...that the One whom they rejected...the voice of Truth...is right there and they all completely understand who and what He is. 

Those who are with Him are caught up in rapturous joy. Then 2 days later Jesus tells them its time to go. Those on the other side pleading with Jesus for another chance. Only to be told with Authority: no. 

Which side would you find yourself on? Which side?

Here we are over 2,000 years later and the promise of His coming is closer at hand than it ever has been. In those ensuing years billions and billions of people have joined those others in Hell because they've rejected Him in this life. Still others whom looked forward to His appearing, who placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, stepping straight into eternal life in Heaven...welcomed home.

My Dear Reader...before you is set death and life. Eternal separation from Jesus in painful torment in Hell or eternal peace and joy in His presence.  

In your here and now you have the opportunity to choose. The door to your heart has someone named Jesus gently knocking on the other side just waiting for that moment you bid Him to enter in.

These words of mine hold little meaning apart from this core belief: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;" 1 Corinthians 15:3-6.

Further: "But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.

You, my Dear Reader, are who stands between death and life by your choice to ask Jesus to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life...or to choose the fires of Hell and all the painful torment of accepting the judgment of paying for your own sins.   

Don't wait until you think you're clean enough or good enough or have your act together before you decide to ask Him to save you. None of that is necessary. It's His job to clean us, heal us, make us whole after we come to Christ for salvation. 

Don't wait for you to "live your life" first before you decide because as Jesus said...we know not the day or the hour of His return. Furthermore the Scriptures say His return for His Church will not be with signs to be observed by mankind. In the moment, in the twinkling of an eye, that will be it. 

As several in the Old Testament told various multitudes...so are you now told...before you is set death and life.  

Choose life! Choose life because Jesus did live a sinless life, took your punishment upon Himself, died on the cross and arose 3 days later victorious over sin, death and the grave for you and I. 

What's your next choice going to be?  

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosever believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life. 

For God so loved you that He gave His only begotten Son that if you believe in Him you will not perish but will have everlasting life. 

As the Scriptures say...coming to Christ for salvation is simple enough for a child to understand it.

The hour is coming...
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.   

Monday, February 10, 2025

Your true Treasure might not be Jesus

Your true Treasure might not be Jesus 
by David Brenneman 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21
"What do you think about most throughout the day? What causes your heart to beat fast in wonder and anticipation? What do you think you couldn't live without? Whatever has your attention is your treasure, but only God is worthy of your heart. " - Dr. Charles Stanley notes for verse 21.

So many many people have no idea the import of these words of Jesus.  

"I just like this..." 
"I just like that..."
"It's not what you are thinking..."
"I can walk away at any time..."

Really? Hmm. Shut off whatever you're saying isn't for a day, a week or a month. Would you in all reality get separation anxiety? The easy money is on the bet that you will.

What is central in your life? People come into your house or apartment. Is the television central to the activities in there? Do you zone out to video games?  

I watched a clip last night of a fictional scene where someone developed a device that shuts down all devices that use wifi within 30 meters of the person activating it. Those in the news conference where it was being debuted were outraged at first but the person describing it had their attention.

Satan's got way more than just a foothold in the lives of all people. Not just Christians. He got through the door and is living as a squatter in the house of the lives of billions. 

Doing whatever is right in their own eyes as it was in the days of Noah is today's world in all its former glory. 

Just as Jesus said it would be like. 

And so it is.

Smart televisions, mini-projectors, projectors, tablets and smartphones are more prevalent than computers at getting into your heart than anything else. 

Watch people. Observe people 
See yourself in the mirror. What gets your heart moving?  

Is whatever is important to Jesus important to you before anything else? Or does He have to sit out the activities of your life when you assert yourself and your desires first?

Really look at the model of the Lord’s Prayer. Really ask yourself what HAVE you really been worshipping in your life?  

If you're adoring something or someone more than your Savior and Lord...you have a problem. 

Atypical of most people is the ability to plan out meals for the day. Some people reach farther to plan out a week. If you can do this much why do you not plan your Spiritual food? Billions are starving for true food of Jesus Christ every day are are so delirious they don't even recognize their own starvation. Spiritual malnutrition has been gripping people for decades if not centuries. 

Going into this year wanting more I felt prompted to try reading two study Bibles at the same time each evening. The Spirit prompted me for more. So that was doubled. Years ago we gave up television. While there is one in the house it's never on. It's not a central point in the room that it's in. 

While I do decompress with instructionals and rewatching old television shows clips on my phone or tablet, stopping each evening is a must to "go back to school". It takes about a half hour to read through the notes of 4 Godly men as well as reading the same passages in all those versions. Planned Spiritual eating.   

Where your heart is...is your treasure. 

Millions of people commit hours to worldly desires and give God less than the leftover time from their life.

Most ignore the truth of the Spiritual forces of wickedness in the world we live. Living a life of delusions and intellectual ignorance thinking that will save them when they stand before Jesus.  

It won't.

Whatever we do in our bodies that isn't going towards a life in Christ will be burned up. No exceptions, exclusions or excuses heard.  

Scripture says in Colossians: "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:23-25.

Realize the truth...that Satan's after your heart. He's not going to stop trying to keep you from being true worshippers in Spirit and in truth. He is going to to get you to compromise. He is going to use every deception he is allowed to get a foothold in your heart. 

Peter only began sinking in the waters when he took his eyes off Jesus. So will all of us.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Grace Received, Grace Given

Grace Received, Grace Given 
by David Brenneman 

"For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:3-21.

Grace is God’s unmeritted favor poured out upon us in every single breath we take, with every heartbeat that pumps blood throughout our bodies.  

So easily is it forgotten throughout the day! At home or out in the world we forget to give others the grace given to ourselves by the Lord Jesus Christ through the Spirit. 

We who are in Christ, saved by shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross, aren't to merely wait out life doing whatever is right in our own eyes until either He returns or calls us home. 

Compromise. The definition of the word is: 1) accept standards that are lower than is desirable. 2) weaken (a reputation or principle) by accepting standards that are lower than is desirable. 3) bring into disrepute or danger by indiscreet, foolish, or reckless behavior.

Satan's greatest achievement in the lives of billions of people is in getting them to compromise.  

Many billions of Believers have introduced compromise because that's what they were taught to do by those bringing them up in this world. Which is entirely the reason they cannot see that's what they've done with regards to their walk with Jesus. 

Many have done as the Jewish leaders did and set standards for themselves that they can live with that aren't what the Bible says that Believers in Christ ought to be living by.

Sadly this has shipwrecked many in the faith.  

The Believer is supposed to be setting aside self for the work of the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus for them.  

Many see nothing wrong with things they've adopted into their lives that really are against the Word of God. Satan's got them in those areas and they've long since stopped listening to that still small voice of God trying to lead them towards the path of righteousness in Christ. 

Satan's really gotten his way with so many people in saying "It's all in fun! Nobody got hurt! It's just a rivalry! It's nothing serious!" Yet the truth is scars were left and wounds were created.

We cannot know the life in Christ that He intended for us if we keep putting on the old self with its passions and desires.  

God's grace is new every morning and more often than not we keep it to ourselves. We don't show it in stores or restaurants or wherever we go in life to do the things that we need to do. I am guilty of this when life happens and my knee-jerk reaction isn't Godly.  

H A L T.

Hungry 
Angry 
Lonely 
Tired 

We exhibit any of these and the first thing that goes is holding to our walk with Jesus. Our testimony is ongoing in our world. In a mere moment we can damage it because we're hungry and dismiss what is going on in the lives of those around us. Anger. This causes rational thoughts to leave us faster than we can know what really happened. Loneliness can open many doors to paths we never should consider for a person walking with Jesus. Tiredness can cause a single slip up that can take days or decades to correct if it's possible. 

We really do offend the Spirit of God daily and more often than not we aren't aware of this. 

We get excited about something that's been presented to us that has to do with our world yet we groan inside at the thought of spending any significant length of time praying or talking to God or reading our Bible. 

You realize that you offend Jesus when you'd rather not spend time with Him? Yet His grace covers us in this. We should never persist in a life that puts off time with Jesus.  

We are granted so much grace that we cannot fathom its magnitude!

We are unable to see how much of our lives offends our Holy God.  

Doing things for God must come from a place of knowing that you are saved in Christ Jesus. Doing a life that only appears to be Christian without having true salvation in Christ Jesus will not go well when you face Jesus in judgment.  

We are granted grace...His unmeritted favor. My Dear Reader pour that out to others. What the Spirit has for you to be doing isn't what He's got in mind for me to be doing. Yet in everything we are to be obedient to the Lord with a grateful heart. The good, the bad and the ugly. In everything give thanks.  

Graciously give of ourselves to others. God loves a cheerful giver.

What do you do that really isn't worth holding onto because it's really hurting your relationship with Jesus?  

Personally it's a daily struggle. Anyone who thinks they've arrived at figuring out everything they might be doing to offend our Holy God and has removed it...is a liar. 

We come to Christ as we are and it takes a lifetime to move even an inch towards holiness in Christ for most.

Satan's schemes are right before our eyes and we don't attribute them to him. Rather we call it anything but that.  

Take time today to get real with yourself and your relationship with Jesus. I dare you to ask Him the hard questions on how you're going about this life He gave you. 

What have you learned about Him vs what you've learned about the world around you?

The grace you're enjoying should be leaving your hands and your heart to be bestowed on those whom you cross paths with.  

Regardless of the reasons why...avoid worldly chatter. Avoid being drawn into complacency or compromise. Grow with respect to your salvation in Christ. Honor and respect the Word of God more than you do those people around you.

Jesus should be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. Take to heart that second part.  

Today as a prime example...billions will uselessly rage at one team or another and people will get the entirely wrong impression of what a Christian is.  

It doesn't mean anything! Most may say...yet the Spirit says "It matters to Me".

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Saturday, February 8, 2025

What Drives a Person

What Drives a Person 
by David Brenneman 

"But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you." Titus 2:1-15.

What drives you? 

Is what's important to Jesus important to you? Is obeying God important to you? Do you care more for being approved among men and women than you are in the eyes of Jesus Christ?  

Harsh questions possibly if they stung at all. If your attire shows idolatry by the way the Bible says that it is and you laugh it off...what does it say about your respect of the Word of God? Possibly an ouch again. 

If being friends with the world isn't bothering you...and you claim the Name of Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord...well then my Dear Reader...YOU have a problem. 

The older I get the less and less I think about the things that were supposedly important to me when I was younger.

Technically I went back to school in January. Started off the month by reading the same passages in two study Bibles. Then was prodded to double that. My original plan was to teach myself how to study. God's plan is better.   

We often gladly embark on adventures without asking Jesus first. We may even see other Believers doing this or that and figure that we don't need to ask the Spirit if we should as well. How will you ever know the wonderful plans that the God of all Creation has in store for you if you're constantly on the run doing whatever you have in mind without asking Him?

This world in which we live is overflowing with temptations for Satan's plans and schemes to water down the Word of God, to stall the Word of God, to try to stop the Word of God. He cares not for anyone's lives he's going to ruin along the way. 

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus," 

They are called temptations for a reason. Those who don't believe this are lying to themselves. We lie to ourselves all the time when we rationalize our choices without due consideration from talking to God about things. 

Idolatry never left this world. Satan's sugar coated everything about it but it's as alive today as it was way back in the book of Genesis. It's in most every commercial you watch. You're driven to buy merchandise with logos on it to prove who you technically worship. You do worship it because you get angry or upset when someone or something happens to the object of your attention outside of your life in Christ. You feel the need to defend it or it's name.

Vanity never left this world. 
Satan's sugar coated it and it's now a world class business model. 

Bitterness is very much alive and well today. It's been hijacked by causes to promote their agendas. 

Rage has been used to justify further atrocities in our world called causes.  

Stealing has been legalized by refusing to prosecute in many states and countries. There's no end to security footage of flash mob thefts. In one...a thief threatened to call the police if the store owner refused to let them leave with what they were stealing.

Sin is still on the stage. 

Temptations are still at large waiting for our guard to go down. 

Fatigue is a very important part of Satan's schemes. Hunger is used a lot in his schemes. Look at the things that Jesus was tempted with by Satan in the wilderness. 

You my Dear Reader are absolutely not exempt from the schemes of the devil.

You are either trying your absolute level best to live for Jesus or you're not. 

Living LIKE a Christian is going to land you in Hell. A person must have really come to Christ for salvation and then what they do in Christ matters. Jesus said that many will say that they did this or that in His Name and didn't have His gift of salvation...they will be told: "depart from Me for I never knew you!".

Our moral compass is only on and active when we are living with our Lord Jesus Christ. When we are walking with Him in the light of His word. Turning away from the desires of this world when His Word says to flee from them. 

What have you compromised on and have allowed into your life that shouldn't be there because you know that the Word of God says it shouldn't be there?

You are already losing the argument in keeping something in your life that shouldn't be when you begin rationalizing it by saying things like "its not that bad" or "It's not hurting anyone" or "it's just for fun".  

In what I read last night in my studies...take great care in these things when you use the same word as Satan did with Jesus. "If...".

If you have to rationalize it then you should be fleeing it in all likelihood. 

Jesus didn't try to fit in with His world around Him when He was here. As a Christian we're to be living life like Christ. Jesus exposed the world around Him. So are we to be doing.  

Jesus said that we ought to take up our own cross and follow Him.  
So what are you doing with your cross? Setting it down and taking a break is going to get you in trouble. 

Jesus said to His Disciples...go and make more disciples teaching them all that I commanded you.  

He didn't say to adapt to your current culture n compromise. 

Look at your life. Stand back and ask yourself if Jesus really would approve of your choices. Of how much time you give Him. Of where you put the joy in your life that belongs to God. Of what you have allowed in your life that you wouldn't do if He physically stood by you. The things you put before your walk with Jesus.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.