by David Brenneman
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. 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. He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:24-42.
"The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:7-10.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23
There's those who call themselves Christians who walk their talk.
There's those who love being in their present darkness of life yet being near to those who have a real relationship with Jesus Christ.
There's those who have a true walk with Jesus in and are in a real relationship with Him.
Churches throughout the world have millions enter who really don't have a relationship with Jesus.
They went forward, prayed a prayer, but never followed through with the commitment. They get out of church, when it's not interfering, and go on living as they had been.
Many professing Christians unknowingly cater to these people by not living out their faith. They don't know what their spiritual gift or gifts are and have no conviction to help.
We who are in Christ have all been given a special spiritual gift from God through the Spirit of God when we came to Christ for salvation.
If the person truly meant it in asking Jesus to be their personal Lord and Savior, the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives, they have indeed been endowed from on high with a plan and purpose for their lives by God for God and ourselves.
It may take us down the path our lives have been going or it may mean a life change to a newfound direction.
We learn from the Spirit when we're open to hearing from the Spirit.
We have that as a promise from God in Christ Jesus.
Are you saved? Are you making it a priority to learn more about Jesus Christ your Savior? Are you listening for His still small voice? Are you making all of your heart an open book to Jesus and the work of the Spirit of God in you?
We can be hearers only, deluding ourselves or we can be doers who aren't. We can be open to the prompting of the Spirit or we can shut Him out. We can see idolatry in our lives if we actually agree with the Spirit as to what idolatry is. We can see the fruit of the Spirit if we use our spiritual eyes to see.
Someone once said that one if opens up a world of limitless opportunities.
We choose to live life in Christ as He intended for us or we don't.
Is Jesus the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life?
Are you acknowledging the truth of the spiritual forces and battles of this world or are you thoroughly enjoying being ignorant of them? Oh my Dear Reader don't be ignorant of them!
Satan's loving it when Christians think that he's leaving them alone.
He loves it when we dismiss what goes on in our lives as mistakes or karma or coincidence...when it's really sin, it's consequences, and his minions or our sin nature.
Every single human being will stand before Jesus either to receive reward for what we did in the body we had for Him - using the gifts we were given - those who are saved, or will see Him as Judge and be condemned for unbelief not having believed the many convincing proofs He provided.
Paul told Timothy, and by extension, all Believers to fight the good fight. Run the race with endurance. Finish well.
Are you saved in Christ Jesus? Live it with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. With all your strength. It's going to mean saying no to things you currently love in this world. But it will either get you using your God given Spiritual Gifts or it will show you how you're falling short.
Those reading this who aren't saved...Jesus wants to save you. The darkness you are in can't possibly show you the truth in its fullest extent without coming yourself to the cross of Jesus Christ to receive the free gift of salvation.
"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.
Believing or unbelieving the day of Jesus Christ returning is going to happen. Could be even today. Could be next week. Lord only knows. Will He be your Savior and Lord or your Judge?
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
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