Customization Does NOT Apply

Customization Does NOT Apply 

by David Brenneman 

Many, both now and since the writing of it, have tried to rewrite the Bible to fit their own sins so that their lives wouldn't be sinful.   

God's Word says plainly that He is the same, yesterday, today and forever.  Within Him there is no shifting shadow.  There's nothing but holiness, that which is right, true and pure.  

Throughout the decades the protector of the Word of God has been the Spirit of God.  People still try to create versions to fit their practiced sins.  They don't want to hear that what they do, how they live, is wrong in the eyes of God. 

Jesus plainly said that not one part of the Word of God would be nullified.  What's been written will come to pass. 

Instead of people trying to figure out how to keep on the clothing of the old self, they need to realize the truth of God's word and indeed remove it, cast it away, putting on the new in Christ Jesus. 

I so long for that day when my sin nature no longer messes with my heart and soul and my mind.  When it no longer clouds my judgment. 

Many people are falling into Hell screaming because of the realization that their lives were in vain.  That the things they perverted concerning the Word of God did nothing to prevent them from going to Hell.  That those verses they twisted to salve their seared minds did nothing to save them.   

Nothing has changed in regards to what a person must do to be saved since the word was spoken over 2,000 years ago. 

Horrified people are descending into painful torment only then realizing that the life they lived was a lie.  That they wouldn't be joining those who they knew who had truly been saved in Christ Jesus.  

God the Father didn't have God the Son go through the crucifixion in order to create a Baskin-Robbins 31 flavors way to get to Heaven.  

When a person does come to Christ to be saved life-change is supposed to occur.  Priorities are supposed to be different, not modified to stay as close to the same as before being saved. 

God does not compromise concerning sin.

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all hate sin.  Sin, separates people from God.  Those who remain in sin cannot enter Heaven. Heaven is entirely holy ground.  If Abraham was to remove his sandals because where he stood was holy ground, how much more the very abode of God?

People mislead oh so many into believing that God isn't going to require them to give up their life of sin, that they can go on living the way they are. That they got their "get out of Hell free" card and can continue to live as they want.  

In Romans, Paul writes of a transformed life.  One that was in sin that's being transformed into the likeness of Christ Jesus.  Operative word is WAS.  Jesus said that once we truly come to Christ for salvation, that we become His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. 

What the Lord Jesus Christ has said is an abomination centuries ago is still the same today.  What He said was sin in what we read in Genesis is as real then as it is today.  What He said was true is still true today. 

Some try also to equate making physical priorities the same as Spiritual priorities.  While the physical needs of your body are important to a certain extent, nothing is more vital than your growth in Christ Jesus.  Take care of your body for sure, but do not make it an idol in your life.  Do not let the only things that people know about you are how you took care of your physical body and that they knew not that your Spiritual body was important to you. 

A man was a coach, this is a true story, and at his retirement celebration he gave a speech, thanking various people. Thanking God, and he took that opportunity to share of how his faith in Christ was at the heart of his coaching.  Afterwards the real talk was that throughout his career, nobody really knew he was a Christian.  His life never showed it...and this was from those whom he had coached. 

Regardless of how much a person loves their sins, when they truly come to Christ for salvation, they must severe ties with those sins, those desires.  There is no place for them in a life in Christ Jesus. 

People are supposed to see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. 

Not see our works and realize that they don't need a changed life to get to Heaven. We should never show people that we can go ahead and sin and it will be ok.  That we figure God will be ok with it. 

When sin bothers people it means the Spirit is getting to them. It's called conviction. 

When sin doesn't bother people it means they are shutting out the voice of the Spirit.  

When our thoughts do not align with God's, the problem is never with God. 

When our desires do not align with God's, the problem is never with God. 

When sin is revealed to be sin and we choose to keep it anyway, the problem is with us.

There is no compromise in regards to living life the way God intended for you and I to live after we truly come to Christ for salvation.  There is nothing in regards to what was defined as sin centuries ago that isn't still defined as sin today.  

So many millions of people in the world today who claim to be Christians are trying so hard to not let go of sin and sinful practices.  They are trying so hard to live as close to their old life they had before being saved as they can.  They are more in love with this world, sadly, than they really are in love with Jesus.  Jesus said that you cannot have two masters.  To try to live a life to disprove that statement will lead only to disappointment.

Let go of your life if you truly want to find it in Christ Jesus.  Regardless of how desirable any sin is that God has called sin, let go of it.  Cast it far from you.  

A life saved in Christ Jesus is to be on a path to becoming like Jesus.

Wrecking the Car

Wrecking the Car

by David Brenneman 

Being distracted behind the wheel these days is oh so easy.  Our vehicles move at speeds that the human brain isn't really comprehending.  The weight of these vehicles isn't part of the equation for those who do choose to drive recklessly.   

Add to it the truth that our brains cannot deal with multiple split second decisions. A text that comes in beckons a response while the vehicle travels at 65 miles per hour.  Distances longer than a football field are covered in the seconds people take to respond and someone dies.  Never understanding what just happened. 

People blame other things but what the cause actually was.  Human beings causing problems for other human beings. 

We cannot drive distracted, what makes us think we can live distracted?

If we keep looking at the past, our life's rear view mirror, we will miss the importance of the present. We will be ill prepared for the immediate future or the distant future.  Everything from memories of others or other places other things can flood our minds.  Some spend inordinate amounts of time, energy and effort to recapture the past, only to miss out on the things of the here and now. 

A life in Christ is meant to be in the here and now with a view towards the future, the finish line that we're to be racing towards. We have been told in the Scriptures to run the race as to win the prize. 

Those in a race ARE running for the purpose to achieve the goal of that race, to cross the finish line well.  

Paul taught to lay aside every encumbrance. Everything that weighs us down.  Every thought that distracts.  

I have repeatedly seen a video of a phenomenal comeback of a runner in a competition.  Several laps in and a competitor caught just enough of her foot to cause her to trip and down she went.  Rather than giving up, she got up, and took off.  She could have lamented her situation.  Could have just walked off the track. Could have said things or done something towards the one who ruined her race.  But she didn't. She was focused on that prize, to finish well, no matter what.  So she took off.  Competitor after competitor, she began passing people.  Her time kept getting better.  She passed her teammate.  Then won the race at the last step.  Literally by an outstretched leg.

Focused running of a race in spite of that obstacle.  A lesson for us about running this race called life.

Paul taught us to be focused. To run with endurance the race set before us.  To focus on what matters concerning what's needed to win.  Satan's trying to get Believers and the unbelieving to keep trying to grab souvenirs to hang on our running outfit.  To get us to put on backpacks and load them up.  To grab luggage on wheels to put more into.  

He wants to slow us down, to distract everyone from realizing the importance of finishing well.  

What are you being distracted by?  Don't lie to yourself and say that you are not.  Nobody who's in this life gets out alive. 

Everyone is in the fight of their lives. 

Believers are at war with the forces of Satan whether they acknowledge it or not.

Unbelievers are being blinded by the god of this world to stay away from the truth that can save them in Christ Jesus.  

Our past is the easiest place for Satan's attacks.  He plays on our emotions to get us to stumble, but will we get back up and keep running?  He convinces us through our emotions to make choices to walk away from God's calling in our lives.  Some, even think that those choices are from God when they certainly are not because they are not representing God well in them.  

God's got a specific, special, plan for us in Christ Jesus to run this race called life and to finish it well.   It's going to take determination in word, in deeds, in thoughts, emotions, prayer, to run with purpose and endurance.  It's going to take running in the present moment with the right heart attitude.  With the right frame of mind.  As someone said the past is a reminder, not a prison sentence.  It isn't there to define our lives. 

Are you running this race called life with the purpose of winning?  Are you removing things from your life that aren't helping you run well?  

Satan's going to use every bit of knowledge about what we think we "love" in order to get us to willingly pick up something from this world that will inevitably slow us down.  And he will get us to convince ourselves that what we have embraced from this world isn't a bad thing!  

The whole armor of God in Ephesians 6 isn't meant to be casual wear.   Really think about that.  Really consider what Paul wrote about our battle not being against flesh and blood.  Temptation is at our doorstep no different than it was at Peter's.  Satan would love to sift every single Believer.  He know more about us than we do.  He knows what memories will harm us the most.  He knows how a little distraction goes a long way. 

He doesn't tire nor does he take breaks.  

What's this to say?  Be alert, be set on the race set before us.  Keep the distractions to a minimum.  Let go of things like the past.  Ask God to reveal His plan and purpose for your life.  You were born in this here this now for a specific reason in Christ Jesus.  His workmanship in you goes much easier when we want what Jesus wants for us, in us and through us.

The longer we focus on the rear view mirror the more we miss what's in front of us.  We miss recognizing the blessings of God. We miss the friendships He's brought. We miss the lives we are meant to impact.  The more baggage we carry from this world the less we can see, the lessening of our impact on others. 

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul?  

Paul admonishes us to lay aside every single thing that can be an encumbrance. 

To put off the old self and its practices. 

To put on Christ. 

To run as to trying to win the prize.  To hear Jesus say "Well done!" as we cross the finish line. 

Going in the Right Direction

Going in the Right Direction 

by David Brenneman 

Many in my life go on and on about what they know.  I don't know if it's a sign of maturity or of wisdom, but the older that I get the more apt I am to state that there's much more that I don't know. 

Right now, and I am perfectly fine in confessing it, I am at a loss about the true direction of my life.  Seems as though God's decided to use my life's situations as a basis of things to write about. Again I am not going to complain. Paul often wrote of deep things concerning his own life.  

Much of my thoughts revolve around Proverbs 3:5-6 these days, especially when I am seeking to know God's plan for my life.  In all reality I just don't know where to go from here. Employment wise or personally.  I have no dreams or ambitions ahead of me in this present moment.  Desires? Have plenty of those but God's response to those has been for me not to pursue them because they do not fit into His plans for mankind.  Yes, those thoughts and ideas are that big.  

I always look forward to my time praying on my way to work.  Just Jesus and me and almost nobody on the road.  No problems with being open and honest, more often than not just pouring out my heart.  

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  Try praying this...honestly if you dare to know the truth.  

Many are too happy with the compromises they have achieved with their own walk with Jesus and the world to do so. 

Unbeknownst to them that's exactly what Satan wants of Christians.  To establish compromises.  To permit things that God has unequivocally stated are sins in their lives and or to dismiss saying something to others about their practiced sins.

Do you want what Jesus wants of you and for you?  That's where I am at these days.  Unless Jesus changes His mind about my desires those things will sit on the shelf.  My mind has been both blessed and cursed with being able to troubleshoot problems.  I have solutions to several world issues in regards to various things and when asked, God's confirmed or has told me of whether or not they would have worked.  But in this present time I am not to pursue them.  With that said...I have already achieved most everything that I dreamed of being able to do in life.  I have no ambitions to do anything else. No dreams to dreams of something to accomplish that matters in light of eternity.  Which brings us back to prayer and Proverbs 3:5-6. 

Paul wrote of my being Christ's workmanship.   That I am created in Christ Jesus for good works that I might walk in them.  This means when I understand and when I don't.  Currently, I frankly, don't. 

I have several favorites of the giants of the faith, Daniel is my first, Joseph is next.  Many times during my life I can feel the parallels to his.  The years of not knowing how the vision given to me aligns with how life is going.  You read in Genesis about Joseph you read that the Lord was with him.  He was with him because he was keeping his heart set on the Lord.  You read in 1st and 2nd Chronicles and 1st and 2nd Kings of all the various so-called Kings over Israel and Judah who's hearts were not fully devoted or were devoted to the Lord. The Lord was with Joseph because of his devotion to the Lord. Regardless of how agonizing his life was.

Regardless of how completely confusing his life was.

Wrongly treated by family and sold off, several wanting to kill him.

Wrongly accused and sent to prison. 

Wrongly kept in prison and forgotten, or so he thought...for years. Yes, years. 

In all his ways, because of where his heart was, the Lord prospered him. He trusted in the Lord with all his heart and in all his ways he acknowledged Him and regardless of what his eyes saw, the Lord made his paths straight. 

My life isn't what my eyes see. 

My life isn't what my ears hear.

My life isn't to be about how I feel as my top priority. 

I will surely mess up life by putting those things first.  

Psalm 23...we walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death.  We do not take up residence there.  We don't book a hotel stay. We don't wallow in the misery of that moment. We are to press on. 

"And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5 NASB 

"Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4 NASB 

Sometimes we acknowledge the idea of fight or flight. Joseph, Daniel, this wasn't an option in order to bring about the results that the Lord Jesus had wanted.

I still pray about my future. Praying for to be doing what He wants of me.  To be able to provide for my family.  To be of service to God.  To be found by Him doing that which He has in mind for me.  

Are you doing that?  Is what God wants of you a priority to you?  Are you a person who's been compromising, trying to do what brings you the least amount of pain in living life as a child of God?  Joseph and Daniel refused to compromise and the Lord Jesus blessed them for it.  

While I wait on the Lord, I will continue to do whatever He puts before me to do. 

That's what Joseph did.  He did his best at whatever God put before him.  

Satan loves to add off ramps to the path that God's put before us between us and Heaven.  All kinds of exits.  Jesus said to be alert.  Are you? We are to test things to see if what we are told are true by God's word.  Do you? We are to pray without ceasing.  Jesus knew the will of His Father because of His constant time with the Father.  

Proverbs 3:5-6.

When You Don't Know

When You Don't Know 

by David Brenneman 

It's been a prayer for some time now for me to be praying for God to show me His plan for my life.   As odd as it may seem I have no aspirations, no dreams, of things to pursue in life.  What I do have that remains are things that are more fantasy than a possibility of happening.

Was texting a friend last night about this dilemma of mine.  I am in the midst of searching and praying.  I have done so many things, tried many things, that confusion has set in. 

Then this morning I was reminded by way of this passage that He does know and as my friend had said as well, things will be revealed.

My journey in searching, as it is, began several years ago.  This isn't something that began recently.  What dreams that I had left are financially out of the question. Inventions that I have no ability to afford the time, energy or money to bear out.  In some of those, whether others believe it or not, God's shown me in conversations that the ideas would have worked or that they wouldn't have.

Some people struggle way more than I do at understanding their present and their future.  Praying is what I do because there's only One who holds my life in His hands.  It's not a matter of Jesus denying my desires because of this or that.  The heavy realization is that whatever is permitted to be has to fall into the plan and purpose for humanity, not just individuals. 

Speaking entirely hypothetically, suppose I or someone had an invention to eliminate something that's a global problem.  If such a thing were to arbitrarily be allowed because there were no constraints concerning the Word of God, it would be a free-for-all.  The truth is bound into what Jesus said.  Not one part of the Word of God would pass away as unfulfilled.  It would follow the Father’s timetable. 

What's this got to do with those times when you don't know?  Consider it well that the Spirit of God is very much active and working in this world.  Nearly 8 billion people being directed by the Spirit of God whether they believe it or not, that's what is happening.  8 billion puzzle pieces being maneuvered to fulfill the Word of God. 

And God knows every single detail of your story and mine that is happening and needs to happen.  Praying for what the Scriptures say takes on a higher meaning. 

Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.  His will means paying attention to what He is doing and joining Him in it. 

My desire is to be doing whatever He has in mind for me to be doing, both in the Spiritual sense and the physical sense of providing for my family.  My desire also points towards hearing "well done!" from Jesus.  Is that your priority?

Love not the world nor the things of this world isn't a suggestion.  Yet so many people waste so much of their limited time on this planet trying to figure out how to love God and love this world's ideology. 

You cannot desire what the world does and obey the Word of God.  I am very leery of the things this world promotes in order to find "happiness" as defined by them.  

Jesus often got away from the world to spend time with His Father to know what He was to be doing.  That should be our practice too.  I don't know so I go and pray.

Praying is our heart speaking to His heart. 

While much has been said of our impact on the world at large concerning what is or isn't allowed according to the will of God and the fulfillment of God's word...remember that in the lives of every single Believer the Spirit is accomplished the work of Jesus in us to make us more like Christ Jesus.  

When we run after what the world offers we aren't able to obey the Lord Jesus Christ at the same time. 

Paul said to run the race as one who wants to win the prize.  Would that describe your life in Christ? Are you setting aside your desires to be able to finish well?  I have but that one desire...to finish well.  Money, fame, the approval of men and women, possessions, mean extremely little to me. It's just sadly taken way too much of my life to get to that point.  

When I don't know what to do...I just follow some old advice given to me. Keep doing whatever it is God's put in front of me to be doing until He changes things for me.  Keep praying, keep seeking to know.  The Spirit cannot direct feet that aren't moving.  

"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." Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB95. 

Don't be afraid to pour out your heart to Jesus.  When He prayed to His Father, that's what Jesus did too.  

"This day is the day that the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24 NASB95. 

If I Go...

If I Go...

by David Brenneman 

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 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 14:1-6 NASB95. 

Somehow, when I read this, I get the impression that when Jesus DOES return that regardless of how impossible it may seem...that Jesus will embrace every single person who's been saved. Just as what has probably happened for every single person who's died in Christ Jesus over the last several thousand years.  

When I read "I will receive you to Myself"...This image of Jesus embracing comes to mind. 

Another is this: 

Oh how I do long for that day.  Jim Reeves had a song out "This World is Not My Home"...and oh how true it is. 

Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place for not just me, but all who are saved in Him. 

My first use of two good eyes will be when Jesus gives me a glorified body.  A body free of the trappings of this mortal flesh and blood.  No more of anything that's plagued me all my life.  Much much more than this is that the mental restrictions will be gone.  Understanding on a level that I have never experienced will happen to me.  Truth will be in my heart, soul and spirit in ways never known before. 

Thinking on that day I find this world paltry in comparison. 

The world gets excited for this breakthrough or that achievement. 

This world gets excited over what they claim science or medicine has discovered.  Those things aren't even peanuts in comparison to knowing Jesus like we will when we do meet Him face-to-face. 

We indeed are going to struggle in this world and in our lives.  We are promised that that is going to happen. We've been encouraged by Jesus to persevere. To press on as Paul also said to do. 

It's been incredible to me in recent weeks to really consider Proverbs 3:5-6. Likewise Ephesians 6.  

So many people struggle with life because they ARE trying to push their own understanding on Jesus who interestingly enough already understands everything.

So many don't get the why behind the whole armor of God, or think that the enemy of God would grant them vacation time in this struggle called life that they live or would cut them some slack if they don't put the whole armor on. 

We're to suit up. To put the whole thing on.  To literally sleep with it on. The old self we read from Paul we are to put off. To remove those rags that did nothing for us spiritually, and to put on this armor, the new self in Christ Jesus. 

With it on we need to know and understand the purpose of each piece. 

I've come to realize that we aren't just to keep holding up the shield of faith to block the blows from the enemy of God all the time.  We are to follow up those blows with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.  This way of thinking is certainly outside of our own understanding. 

See how that connected?

Jesus is coming to receive us to Himself. 

Will He find you suited up or half dressed?

I sit in peaceful silence each day that these posts are written. I long for the day that I get to hear Jesus cry out for me to come home...my place is ready.  My desire is that it would be at the Rapture.  

He's certainly burdened my heart to keep telling people that He's coming again, and soon.

That message means far more to me than my job, than my hobbies. Than anything else in life including unnecessary focus on even my physical health.  For those who had followed my time of weight loss, it's being maintained at a level that I feel is healthy for me.  It's certainly not what a doctor would want for me but I am where I feel is right.  

Should Jesus return today nothing more of it would matter. 

My hope is that someone, somewhere, through these posts might come to Christ for salvation.  That they too might realize the wonderful message shared here this morning.  That Jesus is coming soon.  

"and let us consider how ato stimulate one another to love and bgood deeds, not forsaking our own aassembling together, as is the habit of some, but bencouraging one another; and all the more as you see cthe day drawing near." Hebrews 10:24-25 NASB95. 

What Satan Cannot Do and What to Be Aware of

What Satan Cannot Do and What to Be Aware of 

by David Brenneman 

The Scriptures say that at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Satan was defeated.  Yet here we are a few thousand years later and he seems to still be at his typical self. 

The word of God hasn't failed has it?  By no means!  Read the rest of the story.  

Jesus isn't willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance and be saved.  There's also an additional element.  Scripture says that every person will be without excuse when standing before Jesus.  Which means every possible excuse will have been covered to disprove that any way of mankind's thinking would equal the Father’s plan that required salvation in Christ Jesus alone.

Satan's the manipulator of mankind.  I have come to really understand that if we see the world embracing something en-masse, be very very careful.  

When core thoughts of God about your identity are under attack, there's good reason why.  Satan doesn't at all like what God has established in Christ Jesus.  Our identity is the primary point of attack. 

He knows that those who are solid in their identity in Christ won't easily be fooled.  

He also knows how to do many things to sidetrack Believers and how to keep the unbelieving from understanding that Jesus seeks to save them too.  We as Believers introduce people to Jesus, only Jesus saves, we do not save anyone.  

Satan cannot read the minds of Believers because the Spirit is in each who are saved. He can, however, use circumstances and situations to try to influence our behavior by twisting our thoughts and feelings.  

Satan's restricted by our Savior Jesus Christ in what he's allowed to do towards us.   God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.  Satan has to get permission to do.  It's not just the book of Job that shows this but it's in the Gospels.  "Peter, Satan's requested to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you" is one way it's written.  

Satan's not creative.  He only uses on humanity what works. 

Satan's also restricted to the Word of God. 

He cannot jump ahead of or alter any prophecies of God.  He cannot go beyond them.  

Is Satan a defeated foe?  By all means, yes.  But we must claim that victory in Christ Jesus. That's where he lost. 

Jesus is indeed returning to receive to Himself His sheep.  Those that have heard and do hear His voice.  Really think on that.  When Jesus does return His cry to everyone, the living and the dead will only be heard by those who were and are His sheep.  We read through the Gospels too quickly sometimes and miss the real life examples of the sheep who heard Him and those who didn't.  Find the passages where the Father speaks and only some heard and understood.  Some thought it was thunder.  Jesus clarified by stating that the voice was for their benefit (and ours).

We can easily be distracted by our sense of right and wrong.  By what we want and desire rather than what the Spirit is directing us towards in growing in Christ.

People and forces in this world are intentionally dumbing down the population at large to make them obedient to the global leader to come during the Great Tribulation.  By way of the chemicals in our foods to chemicals in medicine, to how the medical field is permitted to work.  To social situations and the pitting of one group against another.  What's interesting is the evidence and essentially the confession of historical figures backs up these statements. It's easily looked up if people would be interested in knowing. 

Smoke and mirrors to keep people from finding that only a life truly lived is lived in a right relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Satan's not wanting what God wants. 

Satan's wanting the worship of mankind to be towards himself.  He wants the Throne of God.  

If life is indeed valuable to God, he will twist, distort, and kill to keep people from learning the value in the eyes of God that it is.

He will pervert everything he can to keep people from knowing the truth of how deep the love of God is for humanity.  

The helmet of salvation is to protect the mind. The breastplate of righteousness is to cover the vital organs.  The shield of faith works hand in hand with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.  Block with the shield the attacks of Satan and wield the Sword to attack and defend. The Bible says of itself that it's sharper than any two-edged sword able to divide everything down to the soul and spirit.  Satan cannot defend against the word of God when it's properly used.

He hates it when people pray. He knows how to get people to pray selfish prayers. He really hates silent prayers.  He hates when we pray as we ought to because he knows that Jesus hears.  

He sends many of his minions to fight the answers to prayer. Read Daniel. 

Arm yourself with right information on living the Christian life.  Pray that God would show you what He has in mind for your life, not your plans but His to be done in and through you.  

Pray that you keep that Ephesians 6 armor on at all times.  Nobody in a battle in any corner of this world goes into battle without preparation. 

Know your enemy but be careful in what you learn.  You don't fight him on his turf. You don't fight him using his rules.  He really wants you to think you don't need reinforcements.  

Pray without ceasing is there to keep you and I in communication with the One who can handle him.

The Return

The Return: Coming Soon

by David Brenneman 

"so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him." Hebrews 9:23 NASB95. 

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 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." John 14:3 NASB95. 

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NASB95. 

Whether this leans towards the prophetic or not its not for me to say, but I have believed since shortly after I came to Christ to be saved that I was told this event would happen in my lifetime.  Likewise, and in many ways to my own detriment, I had also been shown by God that He has big plans for me to reach people in this medium called the internet.  Where I erred was in getting ahead of God many decades ago, thinking that I understood where He was going with it and boy was I not ready for it...yet.

Fast forward to today and I am amazed daily at what all the Spirit has done with me, with what I do now understand about the Bible, and my relationship with Jesus. With what He's done with whatever I am given to write it blows my mind.  2 years ago this blog passed 70,000 views. Today it's nearing 123,000. I post every here and most of the time it's posted on Facebook too.  

My prayers these days are about those whom I have crossed paths with who don't know Jesus as their own Savior.  I am burdened with praying for them as well as family who might not be saved or who have walked away from God. 

I see God doing things in my life and know that none of it is a coincidence in any way, shape, or form.  

I know that my Savior is coming soon, I, just like many others do not know when.   

The Bible says, from Jesus Himself, that no man knows the day nor the hour.  While Jesus was on the cross it is likely then that the Father chose the day and the hour.  Upon His resurrection and returning to His intimate fellowship with His Father, Jesus now knows too. 

I imagine that the global earthquake that will accompany His return will have something to do with countless graves erupting, and all those bodies being reunited having been glorified with their spirits in Christ.  

People will indeed KNOW that Jesus has returned.  But Satan is already preparing people to receive a grand lie about what happened.  People will be told things to debunk what happened. 

Satan, even today, is manipulating the workforces of this planet to minimize the impact of millions and millions of Believers who will vanish.  The world has one way of interpreting things, but the Spirit reveals what God's doing and what God's allowing to transpire. 

Satan is developing artificial intelligence to meet his needs to control mankind. 

People are embracing it literally like a newfound religion that's going to deliver on everything that we've ever wanted to be able to do.

The very foundations of the thinking behind artificial intelligence is found in science fiction.  Star Trek is a very prime example.  

The greatest thing to note is that all of this is being permitted by God towards only one end:  preparing for the return of Jesus Christ.  Preparing for what will happen soon afterwards.  Artificial intelligence will help automate many things that much of those millions of people who vanished were doing in this world.  It will also aid Satan in controlling this world.  Read Revelation and you can see the tendrils of the use of artificial intelligence to control how people buy and sell.

"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 NASB95. 

Generations are being groomed to be docile and to not question what governments offer by way of their "helping" those under them. The greatest enemy to those in supposed authority are critical thinkers.  Those who know how to live without reliance upon government handouts.  In our digital world, physical books are becoming very scarce for good reason.  Once it's in print on physical paper it cannot be altered.  Anyone with access can change anything in the digital world in an instant.  Can restrict anything in an instant. Can delete anything in an instant.  Can pervert anything in an instant. Can rewrite history in an instant. 

Our world has been manipulated for several hundred years by a few people in power to use chemicals introduced in prescription drugs and the foods we eat, sometimes the water we drink, to dumb down the public.  The same people who began this are playing both sides of the game.  They created the medical field and when those chemicals used caused harm, they created cancer societies to mop up.

Our world is not going to get better through legislation. Our world is on track for the return of Jesus Christ and is going to go through the Great Tribulation as outlined by the Word of God.  People are being taught to look everything else but in Bible believing Bible preaching churches for answers to life's questions.

Are you really ready to meet Jesus today if today is that day?  Are you at all interested in living life according to the plan and purpose for you in this world as the Spirit of God has in mind for you? 

I am probably among the few who see the dots connecting between what I read in the Bible and the things in this world. Jesus said to be alert for you know not when He will return.  Does that describe you?  Are you so consumed with your life that you have no time for you and Jesus?

Jesus said that He is going to return.  Do you believe Him or are you one of those who think that day is way off in the future?  Do you seek the blessings of Jesus, believe in the work of God in your life, yet are not prepared for today maybe being the day you meet Him face-to-face?

I read something last night, based on a Scripture passage.  Preach the word, whether it clears the room or fills it up. 

The preaching and teaching of Jesus Christ to this world is far more important than anything including our own health.  

Are you really ready to meet Jesus or will you weep because your relationship with Jesus wasn't genuine because you really weren't saved and were left behind?   

Know for sure.  Your eternity depends on it.

Consequences for Denying The Truth

Consequences for Denying The Truth 

by David Brenneman 

My Dear Reader:  

Know this truth about life:  Eternity matters.  Where you spend it matters. What choice you make in this here this now matters concerning the truth about sin and your need for a Savior who is Christ Jesus.  

Scripture is clear that by under no other name given among men must we be saved.  Only by the name of Jesus Christ. 

If anyone saw the ramifications of a single sin served up in the moment of it, it would only maybe change how they view it.  

Only maybe?  Most people are very stubborn towards what God says about sin.  Most don't want to believe it's that bad or want to believe there's anything bad at all.  There's this lie that Satan's perpetuated that you can do a bunch of good things to cover your sin. That's not of God.  

“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed from the scraps which fell from the rich man’s table; not only that, the dogs also were coming and licking his sores. Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s arms; and the rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades he raised his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his arms. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set, so that those who want to go over from here to you will not be able, nor will any people cross over from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I request of you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not come to this place of torment as well.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:19-31 NASB95 

John 12:37 NASB95 "But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him."

The passage from John was part of my reading this morning and only today had I understood why the people there couldn't understand the words spoken by the Father to Jesus but the writer of the book of John.  Further proof they weren't His sheep.  At least not yet. 

Many believe they have the right to be arrogant towards a Holy God.  Millions and millions are in Hell because they arrogantly believe they could stand on their own against what God said about sin. And now they joined that rich man in Hell.  

That rich man in Hell as described by Jesus is a real man.  Lazarus that he describes is a real man.  A different Lazarus than the one Jesus raised from the dead.  But real nonetheless. 

Jesus wasn't playing a game of what if.

Jesus was describing a very real event that actually happened. 

Sin has consequences. The ultimate is when a person dies without having salvation in Christ Jesus.  Without salvation in Christ Jesus alone a person goes to Hell because they have ultimately rejected Jesus.  

People are in Hell, millions arriving every day, not because God sent them there, but because they chose to refuse salvation available only through Jesus Christ. 

My Friend if you too refuse to come to Christ to be saved you too will find yourself in the same predicament as the rich man.  You indeed may cry out for someone to come back here to warn others about the horrific consequences of sin.  

But ever since Jesus died and arose from the grave, Abraham and all who were awaiting Jesus's arrival left.  The paradise they were in was destroyed.  The Bible says He lead captive a host of captives.  He removed them from there and took them with Him to Heaven.  

Satan is the Liar and the father of lies as Jesus describes him.  He's the great deceiver.  His aim is to establish his rule in the universe. He was defeated at the cross of Jesus Christ.  All that remains is the fulfillment of the Word of God.  To give each an every person will be born a chance to turn to the living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Scripture is being fulfilled and it will be completely fulfilled as history unfolds. 

Jesus IS coming again. Satan knows not when and he cannot stop it.  

Jesus came to die for the sins of mankind.  He came to save you and I and countless others.  But you must choose. You must decide to come to Christ to be saved. 

"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 put to shame.” 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 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13 NASB 

You want the Truth?

You Want The Truth?

by David Brenneman 

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NASB95

"He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him." John 12:24-25 NASB95. 

Truth is what we call living isn't. 

We can't fathom all that Jesus has prepared for us when we come to Christ to be saved.  

"but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,

And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God." 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NASB95. 

It's so easy to just get up in the morning and just decide to do this or that, think this or that, and not ask God what He's prepared for you and I.  My morning's all begin with coffee and reading my Bible plan.  After that it's time to get ready for work.  I pray on my approximate 15 minute trip to work.  My goal is to do the best that I can at whatever God puts before me to do.  I honestly struggle with making plans because it's sort of presumptuous to me. 

What if God had other plans for me?  

The opening passage always is on my mind at some point, either at the front or in the background.  Jesus IS returning and as He said, I choose to listen to and to be on the alert.  

“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." Matthew 24:42-44 NASB95. 

Our world is not dying in the sense that the governments of the world or scientists say that it is.  

This world is preparing for the fulfillment of the Word of God.  Things are happening not by chance through time. Not by the design or desires of men and women, but at the specific direction of God.  

Most don't want to know or believe that is the case.  They want to see a triumphant mankind over the adversity this apparently world presents to them.   Look at the content of the news and of movie/television/streaming that's put out.  Look at the grooming that's happening to people...and indeed they are being groomed.  Programmed is more accurate.

To arrange according to a plan or a schedule.  People have been getting programming and have been programmed for as long as mankind has been around. With the emergence of radio, newspapers, television, the internet, news services, the programming has been radically increased.   In today's world people aren't even aware of how deep its gone.  Since most 'content' is digital, they are unaware of changes to what once was in print only.  Truth becomes whatever people read and they know no difference.

Even the Word of God. You ought to have a physical copy of a reputable Bible.  If indeed you are interested in learning more, then get physical copies of books from Godly men.  

Our world is slowly, methodically, deleting truth. 

The Bible IS truth because Jesus is Truth.

Another truth to consider is what you are putting into your heart and mind.  Are you constantly on a diet of internalizing junk or are you tending to the seeds of truth given to you from God's Word?  

I see so many pursuing worldly ideas and are wrapping them up to look like they are from God.  Do this if you want to live better for God because this will improve this about you.  Spend your time eating this way, or that way.  Spend this amount of time at the gym.  

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB95. 

Trust not your eyes

Trust not your ears 

Trust not your thoughts as you see things to be understood 

To lean not on your own understanding is to not think you have it figured out.  King David thought he had been blessed immeasurably so he thought he had the green light to go and build a Temple for his God. He began making plans.  God comes to him through Nathan the prophet...telling him no. 

The truth is that we need to protect ourselves from the false ideas of this world.  Satan's going to masquerade things to look like they are from God.

Satan's good at getting Christians to waste time on frivolous things. 

He's good at twisting the Bible to change how we view even God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

He is fully aware of Jesus returning and has been manipulating mankind to get ready for it within the boundaries of the Word of God.  

He believes in the return of Jesus Christ more than many Christians do. 

He is more prepared than most Christians are. 

It's been a very personal conviction to me to not promote companies.  I will not pour my heart and soul into a company. I will not wear clothing that boasts of companies.  If I wear logo's it's to point people to Jesus.  

Jesus didn't say He was one way to get to Heaven. He didn't say He knew the way. He didn't say He would point the way.

Jesus Christ said He IS the Way. 

He said He IS the Truth. 

That He IS the Life. 

It's going to be incredibly painful for millions left behind after Jesus does return because they weren't saved after all.   They were deceived into a false idea of what and who Jesus is.  

You cannot have Christianity without Christ.  You cannot have salvation without the Savior Jesus Christ.  Salvation is in Christ alone.  Any church that preaches otherwise needs its doors closed.  

Some don't want to voice it but it needs to be acknowledged. 

They aren't living for Jesus because they believe that in doing so they can't enjoy life.  That they cannot enjoy the so-called finer things of life if they really lived for Jesus.  

What did Jesus say? What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul? What can a man or woman give in exchange for their soul?

Your soul is going to spend eternity somewhere.  Either in peace with Jesus wherever He is or in torment paying for your sins.  

The truth is in God's word. You're not going to know it without a right relationship with Jesus.  You're not going to understand it without the Spirit to teach you.  

The whole armor of God.  Note well the pieces. The helmet of salvation. It protects the mind from the foolishness of the world.  The shield of faith isn't a stand alone piece.  It works in conjunction with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.  The breastplate of righteousness...it covers all the vital organs.  The heart most of all. 

The Truth says He has so much more in store for you that your mind can't grasp it. 

Only trust Him only trust Him, only trust Him now. He will save you, He will save you, He will save you now.

Stop for a moment and truly ask Jesus to open your mind to His truth about you and your life.  It's in Him that we live and breathe and have our existence.  

Coming Home

Coming Home 

by David Brenneman 

"Reconciliation, in Christian theology, is an element of salvation that refers to the results of atonement. Reconciliation is the end of the estrangement, caused by original sin, between God and humanity."

"past tense: reconciled; past participle: reconciled restore friendly relations between. cause to coexist in harmony; make or show to be compatible"

Was looking for definitions of reconciled.  Another way to look at this idea is to consider that no matter the condition of the person, through what Jesus did in His life, His death and His resurrection, He made it possible to come home. 

In Old Testament times, people like me could not come in the Temple or near the Ark of the Covenant.  Physical deformities were a reason to not allow people to come near.   After the work of God through Jesus on the cross, now it is possible. He made all things new.  He made a way where there was no way. 

The message of the Gospel is meant to be simple enough that a child could and would understand it.

In no way is it to be as complicated as many world religions make it out to be.

Jesus became the way when there was no way.  In that statement therein is everything in every way that humanity has tried in order to gain favor of God to be able to come home. 

Jesus became a man and lived a sinless life. Becoming the perfect sacrifice to die for all the sins of all humanity.  

The only requirement is for us to come to Christ to ask for the salvation available only through Him.  To believe. To exercise that bit of faith we are given.  

"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 put to shame.” 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 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13 NASB 

We can strive all our lives to be a good person and the Word of God says that won't be enough. 

It's something to really think about because the ramifications of that have eternal consequences.  

It's not a matter of "Oh okay, maybe I can do better next time." After you die there is no next time. 

It's not a matter of thinking "Oh well." Because the next stop, after you die, is an unending time of painful torment in a place nobody would wish on their worst enemy.  

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 NASB95. 

It's free but only applies if we ask for it. 

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5 NASB95

In this chapter we see at its beginning the word justified.  Some like to read that word as if to say "just as if I hadn't sinned".  When we come to Christ we are indeed justified, indeed in His eyes those who are now followers of Christ are as white as snow. There is no sin to be seen because Jesus took it all upon Himself. 

We see also that we are saved from His wrath which is upon all who choose not to believe and die in their unbelief. 

And the next part is where we read of reconciliation.  The debt of sin we owe is paid in full when we receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  In the case of Believers, when they die, they are permitted entry into Heaven by what Jesus did to save them. Not on any basis of works they did on their own. 

Not many people are not moved emotionally at the end of a movie where reconciliation between people has happened if the movie is done right. 

Jesus receives those who have believed with extreme joy into His Heaven when they die.

Jesus also, because He is God, sees with profound sadness the lives of people as they die having refused His salvation. 

He will honor your choice.  

You will indeed choose.  Indecision is still a decision.  The enemy of God, Satan, built a fence for you and I to sit on, and tries to get people to believe that fence makes a difference in the eyes of God.

"But I didn't choose!"...you will be shown and have it explained to you that you did.

Jesus knows your heart.  He knows every single cell that makes you you.  He knows every single story of every single person. 

He knows what your life could really be like if you would come to Christ for salvation.  

My Dear Reader, oh you have no idea what things are in store for you when you come to Christ.  Jesus knows and only to a certain extent Satan knows.  Satan knows what salvation does to those who believe and it's something he really doesn't want people to have.  Satan knows the Bible better than any human being alive and tries to twist it to his own purposes. Tries to use it to twist the minds of people to keep them just out of reach of truly being saved.

Was watching an interview yesterday. A now seasoned Pastor was recounting a story of his younger days as a beginning Pastor.  Of being invited to speak at a type of conference.  He preached it as he felt lead to do.  Preached the need for salvation alone in Christ Jesus alone.  It actually upset those who had invited him.  These other so-called Pastors asked him, "but what if you don't believe that?" He very pointedly said then those people will be going to Hell.  They pressed the issue "But we don't believe that!" He again very directly said "Then you are going to Hell".

My Friend, time is not on your side. 

We know not if we even have a next breath to breathe let alone a day to live. 

Jesus isn't willing that any should perish.

"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 NASB95. 

By rejecting salvation in Christ Jesus perishing is what comes next after dying. It's being eternally separated from God with no hope for help to stop the painful torment of paying for your own sins...

for all eternity.  

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." Revelation 3:20-21 NASB95. 

The Cost

The Cost

by David Brenneman 

Hidden fees are certainly a part of the financial wheels in our movement through life.  Some are hidden within other fees very subtly in order to keep them from being seen or acknowledged.  

We have hidden fees on us as human beings.  

Things that we unwittingly surrender because of time and circumstances. 

We surrender to what sounds good rather than what is wise.

We surrender to the "just a little bit" which turns into minutes, hours or days. 

Our time is finite.  It has a set amount per day. What are you doing with yours?

Are you investing or divesting your time?

Was listening to a excerpt from a sermon Dr. Charles Stanley gave.  It too lends to thinking about cost.  

Believing in God isn't enough. That will never cost you.

Believing that Jesus was a good man isn't enough. That will never cost you. 

Calling Him your buddy, the man upstairs, isn't enough. That will never cost you. 

Jesus said not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the kingdom of Heaven.  

To call Jesus your Savior and Lord will cost you.  Your life will be lived differently. 

What concerns Him will begin to concern you. What He is like, we strive to become. 

It will cost you. But, my Dear Reader, there are no hidden fees. Jesus says upfront what a life in Christ Jesus will cost. He outlines the benefits.  He covers all the protection clauses.  

Many want to lay claim to Psalm 23. Look at its beginning. "The Lord is my shepherd..." Is He really?  When He speaks are you listening?  When He reveals something to you are you paying attention?  When He is your shepherd that's what you'll do. 

There's a cost that's not hidden. People will not be nice towards you when He truly is your Shepherd. 

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

People will likely be excessively critical of you.  That too is part of the cost. 

Many drift away into the world in order to lower the cost believing that in doing so they can experience less problems. 

What does Jesus say through the writings of Paul to Timothy?

"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also. Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3 NASB95. 

There is something that Satan wants hidden from the life of the Believer. 

That hidden cost of a "Well Done" by allowing this or that to consume the limited time we are given on this Earth to live for Jesus Christ. 

What would anyone possibly say to Jesus when the things they did in their lives supposedly for Christ are burned up with nothing to show for it because none of those things were done from a fully devoted life in Christ?  

The world will convince us we have time to live for Jesus, just come on over for a little bit and relax. It'll be fun. It'll be okay. 

There is Ecclesiastes.  There's nothing new under the sun and as well as there's a time for every purpose under Heaven.  

We are in Christ for a purpose if indeed we are saved in Christ Jesus.  Jesus said to be on the alert for we know not when He will return.  To be alert means don't slack off.  It will cost you but He promises it will be worth it.

The world will tell you the cost is too high. 

Those who falsely claim Jesus will someday find out to their horror that they were oh so wrong. 

Last night's post about horrified people at the Final Judgment points to that. 

I can do a lot of things in this world. 

What's important is that I am doing whatever it is that God puts before me to be doing, regardless of the cost. 

If in ministry we should never seek to leave it. If in service, serve with the Lord in mind.  Embracing not the world but the truths of God's word regardless of the cost. 

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 16:25 NASB95 

People Are Going to Be Horrified

People Are Going To Be Horrified
by David Brenneman

In Revelation 20:11-13 NASB95  "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.

There's actually a LOT to read in-between the lines concerning these few verses.  Look at the kind of people in our world today protesting at the drop of practically any kind of hat or situation.  I saw a poor guy in a truck being harassed by supposed 'peaceful' protestors who were forming a line to keep him from getting to a gas pump.  Cussing at him, yelling at him, calling HIM a domestic terrorist because he pushed his truck through to get to the pump.  Then a guy about twice his size kept standing in his way from paying at the pump.  

We look around this world let along this nation and find 'Karen's' who rage on about thing that probably wouldn't upset a normal person.  Little do most people recognize it but many of these are actually demon possessed people.   It's recorded in the Bible of groups of demons possessing groups to thwart the counsel given to even leaders of nations.  We read in the Gospel accounts of "Legion" for there were many.  

People, not everyone, can be possesses by demons if they are not saved in Christ Jesus.

It's impossible for a demon to occupy the same space as the Spirit of God in a Believer.  For the most part the people in Jesus's day had a good idea of who was possessed by demons.

Jesus makes mention of the following in regards to the Final Judgement: "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 NASB95.

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’ Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46 NASB95.

The horror of those rejected, of those separated from those they claimed to love, are going to be of an order of magnitude unheard of and unseen by the masses.  Those who die without Jesus Christ as their Savior experience it.  But for these masses of people going through it...

My Dear Reader, don't play games concerning where you are going to spend eternity.  Even those mentioned in the book of Revelation thought they had been on the 'winning' side.  They thought they had enough 'good deeds' to be 'ok' with God.  Wrong on all counts.  

I was watching something from a probable movie...of a group of men having a discussion.  One is telling the others that Satan has no problems with morality.  His problem is with the name of Jesus Christ being made known to the world.  Jesus Christ plus morality he has a very big problem with.

Satan is the great deceiver.  His aim is to deceive.  Just read of what Jesus said of him.  He's a liar and the father of lies.  When he lies he speaks from his own nature. 

There's going to be great horror on the faces of countless trillions of people when they learn they made an eternal mistake that cannot be rectified.   I still am drawn to the truth that it will be Jesus who separates the saved from the unsaved.  He will force the separation at times.   Think on that very hard and very long.  Many will be husbands and wives...being separated by Jesus because only 1 was saved and 1 was not.   Soon to never again be with each other.  Parents from siblings.  Division of the family will happen because of whether or not a person chose salvation in Christ or they did not.  Deeds, on their own, will be shown, individually, to not be enough to secure salvation.  The final determining factor is that Book of Life.  Without a person's name being written in it...there is no hope.  

Be mindful that Jesus separating people are ONLY those who died during the 7 year Great Tribulation and at the end of the 1,000 years He reigned on this Earth.  Survivor's and those who tried to fight against Jesus will be the one's judged.   All who left Earth with Jesus at the Rapture will not be judged.  Romans says clearly there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

I can't even come close to fathoming the screams, the shock, the horror of people who learn that their ideas on truth were wrong.

My Dear Reader, please don't take these passages lightly.  

The truth you want to cling to, if it is not the Biblical truth as preserved and presented by the Spirit of God...you will not enter into Heaven at the Rapture.  If you still persist in resisting the call of the Spirit of God for salvation in Christ Jesus...the Lake of Fire is indeed your final destination.  Beyond the torment that Jesus mentioned Hell being like.   Consider it as well that even death and Hades aka Hell will be thrown into the Lake of Fire.   The nearest that humanity can be close to in a vague understanding is being alive in the aftermath of a nuclear explosion.  The explosion happens and your body does not deteriorate.  It is in infinite pain and torment on a scale never felt before but it does not burn up or waste away.  It stays whole and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it...for eternity.  The painful anguish of being there because of your sin and being there because others tried to tell you about being saved and you steadfastly refused.   

I cannot convey the desolated feelings that people will feel when they are not joining those who are saved.  It's going to be on a scale that, thank God, for me is beyond my imagination.

I have had feelings of desolation before.  They weren't at all something I would wish upon anyone else. 

Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart.   He's offering to save all who would call upon His name.  He said He came to seek and save those like you and I.

We do read of people getting separated...often the Bible refers to it as the wheat the the tares being separated.   On one level it just sounds unemotional.  But oh the truth is so much different.  Screaming people, horrified people, people on their knees in tears pleading, talking over other people, shouting defiantly, angry...and they can do nothing but accept the judgement of Jesus Christ unable to join those they were just with.

Please take a moment and really reflect on what's been said in this post.  Really think about it.

Don't think about what others will think about you.

Don't think about what you might 'lose' if you say yes to the free gift of Salvation. 

THIS IS YOUR ETERNITY YOU ARE CONSIDERING.

Jesus said that not one jot or tittle would pass away without being fulfilled.  Those are the tiniest marks used in the Jewish language.

The Bible is not at all a collection of fairytales or myths.  Heaven is real, Hell is real.

The coming future judgement of Jesus Christ on humanity is going to be very real.

Satan knows not when the Rapture of the Church is going to take place.

He only knows that he needs to persist in deceiving people to keep as many from finding salvation in Christ Jesus as he can.  Creating generations who are not thinkers.  Creating generations who dismiss the truth of God's Word.  To get them to believe in anything but God's Truth.  He absolutely does not care who goes to Hell.  He's never been there.  Even He knows that what Jesus has said about Hell is the truth because even he knows that Jesus cannot lie.

He cares not if you go to Hell or you go to the Lake of Fire.  He only cares that you do not choose salvation in Christ Jesus and that you do not live a life that reflects that.

That horror of being told that you're not going to spend eternity with Jesus or your loved one's who DID say yes to the free gift of salvation won't be yours if you choose Jesus to save you.

"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 put to shame.” 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 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13 NASB95

Please stop right now and really think about what this is saying to you.  Your eternity depends on it.