You cannot hide what's in your heart from God

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the 

knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:6

No amount of activity for God will ever take the place of a heart that is right with Him. Through the ages God's people have been persuaded that they could please Him through their service and their offerings, regardless of their heart condition. King Saul offered generous sacrifices, hoping God would overlook his disobedience (1 Sam. 15:22–23). David may have assumed that after all he had done on God's behalf, God would overlook his sin (2 Sam. 12:7–15). Ananias and Sapphira thought that their generous gift to the church would compensate for their deceitfulness (Acts 5:1–11). Paul was certainly one who had thought his zealousness would please God. After his conversion, however, he concluded that even if he had faith to remove mountains, gave all he had to feed the poor, and offered his body to be burned for the sake of God, and yet had a heart that was not right, it would all be for nothing (1 Cor. 13:1–3).

We are susceptible to the same misunderstanding as all of these people were. We can be deceived into assuming God is more interested in our activity for Him than He is in the condition of our hearts. God has consistently made it clear that He will not be pacified by even the most generous offerings and zealous service if our hearts are not right with Him (Mic. 6:6–8). No matter how much we do in God's service, regardless of how active we are in our church, no matter how honorable our reputation in the Christian community, He will not overlook a sinful heart. His desire is that we devote ourselves to knowing Him and loving Him with all of our hearts. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

Secrets. Oh from the beginning of humanity secrets were found. Cain tried to conceal what he did and thought concerning his brother. 

After 40 years in the wilderness people of Israel were one thing on the outside but inside their hearts were far from God. It took another 40 years and a generation to begin to get that right. 

Throughout the history of Israel we find deception.  People in Jeremiah's day, Jewish leaders, priests even, self deceived into believing something about God but their hearts were far from Him. 

Fast forward to the time of Jesus's birth.  The people and Jewish leaders the Pharisees and Sadducees both certainly thought more highly of themselves than they ought to have.  They indeed honored God with their lips but their hearts were far from Him. 

You, my dear reader, my friend, need to be honest with yourself and God. 

In a day marked out in Scripture, every single person will stand before Christ and their lives will be laid bare before Him.  So secrets.  No trying to explain anything because He already knew your thoughts and intentions at those moments. 

Satan's modus operandi, his MO, is deception.  He deceived Adam and Eve. Then their son Cain, and then on and on throughout history everyone else but Jesus. 

What are you doing? What are you hiding from others? You DO realize that regardless of whether or not you are a Christian Jesus sees. 

In Christ Jesus we have the forgiveness of sins.  Outside of Christ there is no forgiveness of sins.  Outside of Christ a SINGLE sin is enough to condemn a person to the fires of Hell.  In Romans it says that the wages of sin is death.  Wages are what you get for work.  Work is what you put effort into expecting something in return.  Your wages for sin is death.  But I have never hurt anyone!  I have always been a good person!

Problems with that...one, you were born in sin. It's in your DNA. You cannot remove it. Being born into this world means born dead in your soul, when you look at the reality of it.  Only by being born again in Christ Jesus can you have His free gift that restores you to life and erases the stain of sin from your being. 

Secondly, with being born in sin, it matters not what the entire rest of your life looks like.  It wouldn't matter if all your life was spent in service to God, without Salvation it means nothing.  Look at what people said in Revelation.  We did this in your name! We did that in your name!  Jesus tells them to depart from Him for He never knew them. A perfect life of service to God, without Salvation in Christ Jesus alone, equals eternity in Hell. 

If you are physically alive today and can read this, sit down in prayer, and make sure you are right with God. Make sure you are saved and aren't deluding yourself.  

Jesus said you will know people by their fruits.  Measure good fruit by God's standards not yours.  Of course you will say your fruit is good.  But compared to God's standards is it?  

We have not the right to tell anyone they are condemned to Hell. That form of judgment belongs to Jesus.  We CAN tell people that if they don't come to Christ then Hell is what they have to look forward to.  You will NEVER look into the eyes of someone whom Christ didn't die for. Including who you see in your mirror. 

Make sure today that you are indeed saved.  That there was a time when you can look to when Christ saved you.  Are you able? If not, make today that day! 

My friend that is not an unlimited time offer.  When Jesus returns the offer is off the table for to leave this world to be with Him until after 7 years of judgements and tribulations.  

Go no further into this day without knowing.   For Jesus already knows the truth about you. If your deepest darkest secret is that Jesus isn't your Savior.  Resolve that today. 

In these troubling times where to look for hope?

In these troubling times 

Test all things; hold fast what is good. 

Abstain from every form of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:21–22

Hold fast to what is good, or the world will take it away. Satan is the relentless enemy of good. When he saw that what God gave Adam and Eve was good, he set about to take it away from them. When he saw that King David was pleasing to God, he attempted to destroy David's relationship with God. Never take the good in your life for granted. If you do not hold on to it firmly, it may be lost.

People will challenge the good that you are practicing. They may criticize you for your moral stand, your child rearing, your use of money, or your involvement in church. Time pressures will attack the good in your life. Your time to pray, study Scripture, be with your family, and serve in your church will all be pressured by the many other time demands you face. You may give generously to your church and other Christian causes, but you will be tempted to spend your money selfishly and minimize the good you are doing with your finances.

Scripture reveals the solution for holding on to what is good—abstain from every form of evil. Evil robs you of what God intends for you. A spouse and family are great blessings, but the evil of adultery can rob you of the good that God has given. Prayer is a wonderful gift from God. Yet sin robs the power of prayer (Isa. 1:15). If you will not abstain from evil, it will rob you of the good things God has given. God's commandments do not restrict you: they free you to experience God's best. Diligently abstain from every form of evil, and you will be free to enjoy every good thing God has for you. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

Well in that this is my second posting today it's plain to see that God still has a message for someone out there.  Waking me up in the middle of the night to write the first that still resonates to this post.

It's not a matter of if Jesus returns, but of when.  It's not a matter of if you will be found doing something by Him, but what you will be found doing.  It's not a matter of any kind of if, because it's a certainty, Jesus Christ WILL be returning.  

This world has been plotting and planning for the times in which we find ourselves for over 100 years. The technological development and advancements seem, at least on the surface, to be for the benefit of mankind.  Which is true if you aren't a believer in Jesus Christ.  

Manipulation has always been the chief driving force in Satan's affairs with men and women.  How to get God's creation to worship him and not God.  How to get to the Throne of God to make it his own. 

The very foods and medications that have been developed in the last 200 years have a hidden, secretive, side to them. 

Look at the reality of Satan's ambitions and desires.  He is not omnipotent, not omnipresent, not omni anything. 

He isn't creative, he is only experimentive. As things work for his aim and plan he works at perfecting it for the next generation.  He is also hindered by the Holy Spirit.  He cannot just go and do what he wants against a child of God without permission.  The Spirit of God is what stands in the gap between the Tribulation starting that's written in the Bible and the life you live today.  Once He steps aside the judgments of God will come, but not before the Rapture of the Church. 

You are among those being manipulated. 

Those in the darkness that is spoken of in the Gospels. 

Be fully aware!  There is no simple dislike by Satan concerning both the Jewish people and Christians.  This isn't just some festering bad mood nor is it as simple as an anger issues.  This is full on hatred that is AT the point of wanting genocide of both groups of people by Satan.  He wants everyone who will not worship him to die.

Oh? You say you don't worship anyone? You say you don't believe in either God nor Satan?  Congratulations you now see that you are well entrenched in Satan's desire for you.  Great discussion has happened both in the Church and outside of it concerning "the mark of the beast" as mentioned in Revelation.  Dear reader, if you are still here after the Rapture, you will have little choice in taking that mark or not. As assuredly as you need air to breathe if you continue to reject Jesus as your Savior, if you are here at that moment  you will either take that mark, and thus condemn your soul to Hell, or refuse and receive the penalty for rejecting it. No ability to buy or sell anything.  No way to get food or any such thing. Yes you who remain during the Tribulation will be forced into that decision. I won't be here. 

My life, and yours can be too, is hidden in Christ. 

Jesus is being patient. The Father is being patient.  Just as Jesus stood in the gap to be the propitiation for our sins, making the way for Salvation, the Spirit stands in the gap between the cross and the Tribulation.  Once the Father says it's time, then Jesus will come, the dead in Christ will arise first. Those who remain who are alive will be next. Then the Spirit will step aside. Billions will be dying.  

My friend, let today be your new Birthday. Let it be today that you come to Christ to be saved.  Resist His calling no longer. Open the door of your heart to Jesus and ask Him to come in.  

No man can measure the speed of the twinkling of an eye. It's faster than thought or light.  You will have no time for to even open your mouth to cry out for a second chance or even to react to the fact that billions have vanished. 

People still here will witness people vanishing.  The government's of this world will lie through their teeth about where they went.  It will be blamed on chemicals, global warming, on drugs, on some psycho babble.  People, an insanely as it sounds, WILL believe what those governments will lie about concerning what happened.  

The things Jesus said to look for, prior to His return, are happening.  It's no coincidence.  It is God setting the stage for it all to come down. 

Know today where you will spend eternity. 

If you don't have that assurance now, in a twinkling of an eye, things will be a whole lot worse. 

Manipulation is the name of the game with Satan.  If you can't see that, then guess what? You HAVE been manipulated. 

Will you be found by Jesus obeying or sinning?

How will you be found? Doing something for Christ or found by Him sinning?

"“Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near; so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

“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 must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

“Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household slaves, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and he eats and drinks with those habitually drunk; then the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know, and he will cut him in two and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  Matthew 24:34-51

This is one of those cases where I wake up in the middle of the night and God says "write". 

How will you be found when He returns? Believer's should be expectant. They should be ever aware that the next breath they take could be that breath when the trumpet sounds and the call from on high is to "Come!".

The question asked is as real and valid as your identity in Christ or if you are not a believer who you think you are without Him.

I am not an eloquent writer.  In fact my almost 2 dozen half or partially started books tell their own story of how I wasn't meant to be a world renowned published author. 

I write as I am lead to write when it comes to this blog.  

The question that I was given to ask isn't hard but begs you to seriously consider the ramifications of...how will you be found?

Will you be found in the midst of sin or will you be found expecting Jesus's return?

Will you be found swearing, rather than blessing someone?

Will you be found praising God in psalms, hymns and Spiritual songs? 

Will you be found praying?

Will you be found as a child of God or as someone not saved at all by the blood of Jesus?

My dear reader you will be found.

To be found is to be discovered.  

To be discovered is to be in the midst of being revealed. To see as it is. 

What will you feel and be feeling when it's obvious that trumpet sounded and the dead in Christ have arisen? When those who are alive and remain are called up who are believers?

If you are saved these events are what you should be expecting!

If you are still in denial, oh my friend please reconsider your fight against letting go and embracing the free gift of Salvation in Christ Jesus. 

Remember well that the Global Flood written of in Genesis has been proven to have happened. THAT world didn't believe the words of Noah for 100 YEARS of his preaching about it. Read again the passage included above that started this blog post. 

Jesus is real, He really said those words, and He wasn't joking.  He was in the midst of explaining the events and signs of His return. 

It should be an ever present thought in the minds of believers that our next breath could be taken in the presence of Jesus. 

When He does make that call to come to those who are still alive at His return, just what will He find you doing? Will He find you being obedient, or in the midst of sinful behavior?

As it's said in other parts of Scripture, what manner of man ought we to be?

Obedient or disobedient?  

Truly it makes a difference!  Would you be embarrassed at the moment of that call or rejoicing?

Just think about that. Think really hard on it.  Is what you are thinking glorifying God or is it sinful what goes through your mind?

Earlier in this chapter Jesus mentions lawlessness increasing. People hating people. Christians being hated and the world going after them.  

It's easy to hate the world in return to how it is towards us. But Jesus said we should expect them to hate us. So it shouldn't take us by surprise.  That makes prayer all that much more important to us.

Prayer is our lifeline.  Faith is the thread of that lifeline. 

Read Colossians 1 

"For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking 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 perseverance and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light."

Philippians 1:27 "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"

So at this hour, minute and second of your life...consider your conduct and behavior. Consider what is going through your mind and heart.  

How will you be found by Christ when He returns? Sinning or obeying? You can't do both. 

Pray without ceasing...why?

For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, 

and as a root out of dry ground.

Isaiah 53:2

The coming of Jesus was like a tender plant in the midst of a parched ground. Parched ground offers little hope for survival; it is dry and too hardened to allow most plants to penetrate its crust. Yet Jesus was prophesied as a tender plant that would break through the hostile soil and overcome the dry and lifeless environment in order to bring life.

When Jesus was born, His people were hardened to God's Word. There is no written record of God's having spoken to His people for four hundred years. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had studied and memorized the Scriptures, but the words were lifeless to them. So hostile had they become to the truth that when God's Son came to them, they killed Him. Nevertheless, despite the enmity of the people, Jesus brought life to all who believed in Him.

Jesus is capable of bringing life to any person, society, or culture no matter how hardened or hostile they have become to the gospel. Even the most calloused sinner will discover that Jesus knows how to penetrate the heart and bring life where there was only bitterness. The work of Jesus in a person's life may seem fragile at first; but like the mustard seed, it will eventually grow into something strong.

As you pray for someone you care about, don’t be discouraged if this person has not responded to Jesus. Just as a tender plant finds a way to grow in a hard and unreceptive environment, so the love of Jesus has the ability to emerge in a life that seems completely unresponsive.

- Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

Pray without ceasing...

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

I like that last part Blackaby says "Just as a tender plant finds a way to grow in a hard and unreceptive environment, so the love of Jesus has the ability to emerge in a life that seems completely unresponsive."

I know of several, and likely am unaware of others who have the appearance of having turned their backs on God.  They appear to be living full on in their sin.  Even flaunting it.  Such people deserve all that more prayer, not less.  

I know also of way too many professing Christians who have given up or stopped praying for people they believe are too far gone from God. 

To say it succinctly, why would you, who do believe, give up on someone who has the breath of life, when Jesus Himself has not?

Scripture is clear in that hope exists while the person still breathes.  I love something that I read recently that fits perfectly with this whole mindset. You will never look into a face that Jesus didn't die for. 

When Jesus eventually separates the wheat from the false wheat, I do not believe it will be done with dispassion on His part.  The people who are commanded to depart will indeed depart in tears for the most part. Many will depart out of anger but many will depart in tears.  It will in all likelihood be with profound sadness to Jesus to command them to go.  After all He died for them, and His love is still that great, it is still as strong, yet He must follow through with His righteous judgment. 

The most vial of offenders who still breath are still worthy of Salvation. 

Read your Bible before you shake your head and disagree with me.  It's in there. 

We don't get to decide who is worthy and who is not to receive Salvation. The Great Commission says to go unto ALL the world. No where does it say "Whoever's going to listen to you".  People will get in your face. People will be people.  Their reaction to the Gospel isn't a reflection on you.  It's where they stand AT THAT MOMENT before God.  

The door to Salvation only closes after they draw their last breath. 

It was also in my devotionals this morning from Spurgeon, God will not lose a single person whom He knows will receive Him.  

That is or was YOU and ME.  

Jesus prays for this world.  For those who haven't believed yet.  

If we take prayer seriously, praying without ceasing means to not give up, especially based on what our eyes see!  Elijah's servant was defeated. He had given up hope based on what he saw.  God permitted him to see what was really happening.  You do a major disservice to the work of the Holy Spirit by giving up on people that God has not!  We do not decide who is worthy of Salvation and who is worthy of death. THAT IS WHAT IS MEANT BY YOU SHOULD NOT JUDGE.  It has nothing to do with anything else.  We shall know them by their fruits. You have to evaluate before you engage. That's the wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs.  It's the wisdom of Jesus.  Know the stakes before you get involved, because you are SUPPOSED to get involved.  

Look at those whom God has put around YOU.  They are around YOU for a reason.  They are around YOU and not me for a reason.  You know their names, where some live, you know aspects of them that others do not.  You know who to pray for. 

If you aimlessly go through the day, ignoring the urge to pray for coworkers or people who drive by or walk by, then it's not them who is missing it, it's YOU. 

If you don't know it, Scripture says to pray for our leaders. Are you? Or are you too busy tearing them down? Are you showing a lost world your anger or the hope of Christ?

Prayer is something only WE can control between us and God. We are the ones who can inhibit it. We are the ones who can put up barriers between us and God.  Satan strives to help us put up those barriers. He loves to make us ineffective. Go ahead, go to Church on Sunday and cuss like a sailor the rest of the week. Sing praises to God on Sunday and gossip and lie about people the rest of the week. Tell Jesus you love Him then go ahead and turn to take that love n apply it to your idols.  YOU put up the barrier because you won't let go of your sin...and Satan loves it! You wonder why your prayers don't work, it's got a lot to do with how you live as much as it is what you ask for.  God does answer with yes, no, not now or wait, I have something better in mind. But an absence of an obedient life stops prayers from being answered first 

Just as a tender plant finds a way to grow in a hard and unreceptive environment, so the love of Jesus has the ability to emerge in a life that seems completely unresponsive. 

Jesus doesn't give up unless He knows the future of the person shows that nothing will convince them otherwise. 

Keep all of these verses in mind.  Even in your rough times. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

People cry out to God for Him to show them His Will  for them.  There it is.

Are you comfortable in your sin?

Are you comfortable in your sin?

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that 

he already had been in that condition a long time, 

He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

John 5:6

Jesus asked a man a question that appears to have had an obvious answer! He came upon a man who had been lame for thirty-eight years and who was sitting beside a pool of healing. Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed. Why would Jesus ask such an obvious question? Perhaps the answer was not so clear. Bartimaeus was blind, yet when he cried out for Jesus to have mercy on him, Jesus asked what he wanted Him to do (Mark 10:51). It would have seemed apparent that the foremost concern of a blind person would be to receive sight. There were times, however, when Jesus considered it important for people to verbalize their need and specifically ask Him to heal them.

Just because we are spiritually sick, or just because we are near a place of healing, does not necessarily mean we want to be made well. We may attend church regularly, but choose to remain sinful. Our generation has taken many of the activities that the Bible identifies as sin and has labeled them as addictions or character flaws or the result of an abusive upbringing. We act as if having an addiction is sufficient excuse for disobeying God's commands. As Christians, we are no longer helpless victims of our sin. There is no sinful habit or past hurt that is beyond the healing touch of our Lord.

Have you gone year after year without receiving spiritual healing? God is capable of freeing you, but you may have become comfortable in your sin. You may not want to be healed. If you really want to receive spiritual health, God can give it today. He wants you to ask Him. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

Comfort, rest, peace, stillness all describe a state probably all of us long for.  The full absence of stress, worry, fatigue, restlessness. 

But are we seeking comfort, rest, peace etc. by carousing with sin?  Are we simply standing near to known believers trying to get warm, rather than fully coming to Christ yourself?  Have we gotten so used to sins that they are no longer seen as such, yet we don't understand why life isn't any better?

These seem like hard thoughts and questions but it's what comes to mind when I was reading that last part of Blackaby's devotional.  The why of the man being healed.  There was a why in there.  Not just a what to be done. 

Consider the man was born and had the problem long before Jesus arrived in Bethlehem.  Many people today have been living in known sin for a very long time.  They have sought out so-called Churches that espouse the same beliefs as they want to hear.  Not what they need to hear. 

They are comfortable with their sin.  They don't know how to live without it. It's been there so long it's no longer even disgusting or repulsive as all sin is to be to a believer. 

Yet look at the healings that Jesus did. Physical AND Spiritual eyes get opened.  

So many so-called self help books and people on the lecture circuit do not connect the two.  People believe they have failed to deal with something, and they have, because they don't view things as Jesus does.  Jesus indeed is more concerned about the Spiritual eyes than the physical.  The physical will be done away with.  Scripture teaches us that.  The rest of eternity will be spent with glorified bodies without defects or problems and a redeemed soul and Spirit.  Everything we see and know in this physical world is going to be destroyed.  

But we can't seem to keep our eyes and fingers off its temptations.  Marty Mcfly used to get chastened by Doc Brown for not thinking 4th dimensionally.  He was also in one movie told that he never considered the future.  A relative hadn't either and died because of that. 

We live in a world where children are taught to live for the moment.  Where you should live by your feelings. Don't offend anyone. Everyone should be accepted for what they believe they are.  That it's not enough to keep to yourself you have to openly encourage and endorse other people's thoughts on life. 

You are encouraged to show that you should be comfortable in the sin that others live in and should do so yourself. 

God doesn't teach that. Be Holy as He is Holy. Pray without ceasing. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and Spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself. Make Disciples of all nations. Think on songs, hymns and Spiritual songs making melody in your heart to God.  Not considering it strange the ordeals we go through because our fellow Christians around the world likewise go through the same trials and temptations.  Loving not the world nor the things in the world. 

When we embrace sin it causes us to be desensitized to it.  When we acknowledge it and ask Jesus for help in dealing with it, it takes on a different perspective. 

Churches and people will indeed try to convince us that there are acceptable sins.  Hey, that's the reality of that point of view.  Saying that homosexuality is ok as long as they come to Christ.  That's not helping them it's condemning them.  Homosexuality is a grievous sin to God.  It's a lifestyle spent living, intentionally, against what God says is right for a man and a woman. Many preachers say that you can be both a Christian and a practicing homosexual. God absolutely does not.  Some even claim to be a homosexual and a preacher. These are demonic people, false teachers that the Bible warns were going to come to lead people astray. 

My dear reader do not be comfortable in your sin.  If you begin to and indeed are saved, ask the Spirit to bring the conviction you need to stop and to overcome that sin. 

Just because you think you are ok and are comfortable it doesn't mean you are safe.  Challenge your thinking about what you have accepted as ok.  In God's eyes it might not be.  

Unbelievers really have no choice in dealing with sin.  Only the resurrection power of Jesus can overcome sin.  You have to come to Christ to find the life you have been missing. 

There will be trillions of people who claimed they did all kinds of things in the name of Jesus that were not saved.  Their comfort in their sin deceived them. Jesus will tell all those people to depart for He never knew them.  Trillions who believed they lived a good life. Didn't hurt anyone. Helping people. All who will be told the same.  Without Christ it is impossible to please God.  Without Salvation you cannot please God.  Your efforts at being successful in life mean nothing without Salvation in Christ Jesus alone. 

So...are you comfortable in your sin?

Are you blind? Do you even TRY to see?

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, 

for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man 

of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16–17

All Scripture is profitable! Knowing this, we cheat ourselves when we do not access every book, every truth, every verse, and every page of our Bibles for the promises and commands God has for us. Because every verse of Scripture is inspired by God and gainful to us, we should not pick and choose which verses we will read and study. We should not claim verses we like and ignore those that convict us! If we are to become mature disciples of Jesus, we must allow every Scripture to speak to us and teach us what God desires us to learn. Scripture enables us to evaluate the soundness of doctrines that are being taught. Scripture ought to be the basis for any reproof or correction we bring to another.

If you are not firmly grounded in God's Word, you will be bombarded with an assortment of doctrines, lifestyles, and behaviors, and you will have no means to evaluate whether or not they are of God. You cannot develop a righteous life apart from God's Word. Righteousness must be cultivated. As you fill your mind with the words of God, and as you obey His instructions, He will guide you in the ways of righteousness. Scripture will equip you for any good work God calls you to do. If you feel inadequate for a task God has given you, search the Scriptures, for within them you will find the wisdom you need to carry out His assignment. Allow the Word of God to permeate, guide, and enrich your life. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

Sometimes it's not the headline that worms its way into our thinking but the rest of the story.  Yes the verses that Blackaby chose say one thing but look into what he brings to mind that's a bit more important.  

"If you are not firmly grounded in God's Word, you will be bombarded with an assortment of doctrines, lifestyles, and behaviors, and you will have no means to evaluate whether or not they are of God."

I am not immune to the effects of this world.  Nobody is. Not even the strictest person attempting a life that is full of denial to self.  It can't be done apart from God. 

We are a very trusting people.  It began with Adam and Eve. They were told by Jesus what not to do and they were still persuaded by Satan.  They trusted what he had to say. 

Satan has not changed that M.O. He still tries the "Did God really say..." line.

"You cannot develop a righteous life apart from God's Word. Righteousness must be cultivated. As you fill your mind with the words of God, and as you obey His instructions, He will guide you in the ways of righteousness."

If you barely think about the things of God on a Sunday and fill your mind with the world the rest of the time, what will be the outcome?  Used salt - as Scripture calls it - worthless to anyone for anything but to be tossed out and be trampled underfoot. 

What are your thoughts and intentions? What are you listening to in regards to words? In regards to music?  Would you say what you do, think what you think, listen to what you listen to if Jesus were right next to you?  Dear Reader, if you are indeed in Christ, He IS right there.  Newsflash to those yet undecided on coming to Christ: Again, He IS right there near you too.  He is omniscient. He is omnipresent. He is omnipotent. He is everywhere at once, fully aware of everything about everything and everyone. 

Oh you may lie to yourself, been there done that, but you cannot lie about your thoughts and intentions before Jesus. 

Just what DOES your life show?

In your speech, conduct say that you are a Christian?  As one put it, is there enough evidence to convict? 

Is this world more important than what Jesus said was important?  Read the 4 Gospels differently. Read from the vantage point of the Disciple. What were they thinking? What were their actions? Post crucifixion they were known by their conduct, behavior and history with the people as having been with Jesus. 

Coming to Christ isn't going to ruin your 'fun'. It's primary reason is to save you. Once saved, we become His workmanship more than what lead up to our being saved.  There's a house cleaning.  The house of our hearts and minds.  The showing to us of aspects of our lives that don't fit with a life that is born again.  Things that our old self took pride in and enjoying because we didn't know better, that we didn't know offended our Holy God, need to go. In our former ignorance we didn't know.  Now, the more we are in Christ, the more we are in the Bible, we see with new eyes.  We start to understand just how much we have offended our Savior.  It should drive us to willingly make changes.  

When we choose not to change what Jesus shows us needs changed...that's usually when He will get to an enough is enough moment and will bring the conviction to us in ways we won't want to live with. 

Are you influenced by the world more than you are by the Word of God? 

Have you intentionally indulged in things of this world that have honestly taken God's place in your life?  He saved you, but rather than living for Jesus you told, by your actions, Him to go stand in the corner?

The Jews are God's chosen people.  As Scripture also says that's where judgment begins.  Look at the Old Testament.  Look at what the Lord exposed that the Jewish leaders thought they had hidden from Him!

In Ezekiel, Jeremiah, in Isaiah even.  Read about the ways they thought nobody saw of how they really lived when out of sight of others. 

The Lord Jesus saw their hypocrisy. He saw the priests worshipping demons as well as Him in the Temple.  He saw the idolatry they thought was hidden from view. 

You think mankind has changed that much?  The exact same stuff happens today.   People unwilling to admit that God sees, that God knows, everything going on in their lives.  

Are you seeing what God sees? A song of recent years has a line in it "Give me your eyes for just one second, give me your eyes that I might see, give me your eyes."

If we quit lying to ourselves on our condition we might indeed start seeing with His eyes.  We aren't here to live out Fantasy Island (old 1970's television show).  This isn't some Star Trek Holodeck where we can just live for our enjoyment all the time.  

As Christians we are the workers in the harvest that Jesus prayed for. 

We have work to do.  There are aspects of that work that indeed will be happy and enjoyable.  Satan will argue that it isn't the same as what he offers. Yes he is right in that.  What Jesus offers is directed towards saving lives.  We cry out for the return of Christ, we are the same people delaying it happening because we keep putting off the work we are here to do. 

We aren't trying to live the holy life that Scripture calls us to do. The world doesn't see us as any different from them.  We don't change because we aren't in a true walk with Jesus.  We aren't reading our Bible.  We read self-help books. We look to people who themselves do not have a right relationship with Jesus.  We close our eyes and cover our ears to the things of God until it's Sunday again. 

The time is now to get things right between us and God.  Now is when we need the light of Christ to shine in this world.  Now. Ask the Spirit to open your eyes that YOU might finally...see.

Battles we don't see

Battles we don't see 

Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought. Revelation 12:7 NKJV 

War will always rage between the two great kingdoms of the universe until one or other is crushed. Peace between good and evil is an impossibility—even the pretense of it would, in fact, indicate the triumph of the powers of darkness. Michael will always fight; his holy soul is vexed by sin and will not endure it. Jesus will always be the dragon’s enemy, and not quietly—the Lord battles actively, vigorously, and with full determination to exterminate evil. All His servants, whether angels in heaven or messengers on earth, must and will fight—they are born to be warriors. At the cross they promise never to make a truce with evil; they are a warlike company, firm in defense and fierce in attack. The duty of soldiers in the Lord’s army is to fight against the dragon daily, with all their heart and soul and strength. The dragon and his angels will not avoid a fight; they are incessant in their onslaught, sparing no weapon, fair or foul. If we expect to serve God without opposition, we are foolish: the more zealous we are, the more certain are we to be assailed by the minions of hell. The church may become lazy, but that is not true of her great antagonist—his restless spirit never allows the war to pause. Satan hates the woman’s seed (Genesis 3:15), and would happily devour the church if he could. The devil’s servants absorb much of the old dragon’s energy; they are an unusually active race. War rages all around, and to dream of peace is dangerous and futile. But glory to God—we know how the war ends. The great dragon will be cast out and destroyed forever, while Jesus and those with Him will receive the crown. Let us sharpen our swords tonight, asking the Holy Spirit to strengthen our arms for the conflict. There was never a battle more important, or a crown as glorious. Everyone to your post, you warriors of the cross—may the Lord soon trample Satan under your feet!  - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening.

My views on the world may sometimes seem different from others.  God does show people different things as He chooses.  Ezekiel saw things that were revealed to him. John saw things in Heaven as well as across the whole Spiritual realm.  It shouldn't surprise Christians when our Savior chooses to show us things. 

Perhaps a hymn would help explain some things about the reality of this world, my life, perhaps your life too. It's called "At Calvary".

Years I spent in vanity and pride
Caring not my Lord was crucified
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary

Mercy there was great and grace was free
Pardon there was multiplied to me
There my burdened soul found liberty
At Calvary

By Gods words at last my sin I learned
Then I tremble at the law I'd spurned
Till my guilty soul imploring turned
To Calvary

O the love that drew salvation's plan
O the grace that brought it down to man
O the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary

Mercy there was great and grace was free
Pardon there was multiplied to me
There my burdened soul found liberty
At Calvary

Oh and now I've given to Jesus everything
Now I gladly own Him as my King
Now my raptured soul can only sing
Of Calvary

Mercy there was great and grace was free
Pardon there was multiplied to me
There my burdened soul found liberty
At Calvary

Mercy there was great and grace was free
At Calvary
Calvary...

For years I struggled with walking with Jesus. Perhaps indeed it was vanity and pride.  Perhaps it was more than that.  I thought I had understood my future and jumped towards it before I was ready for it.  Telling God "I got this!" Usually means you don't.  It usually means it's going to take a long time to get back around to where He was wanting you to take your STEPS towards, not your LEAP toward.

As it happens with babies and toddlers, it happens in the early years of being a Christian.  We get ahead of ourselves, ahead of Jesus and inevitably fall on our behinds or our face. 

You're not always going to get to hear "if you had just done what I told you to, this wouldn't have happened...".

We honestly live in a Spiritually war torn world.  Wars rage for the most prized possession...the souls of people. 

Mankind is either fully aware, ignorant of, or intentionally avoiding the subject.  The problem with all that, it doesn't exclude the reality.   Truth is harder than a lie.  Truth from the lips of God are final.  Truth is we need a Savior.  There is ONLY one, His name is Jesus.  

Truth is Jesus came as a baby, lived a sinless life, died on a cross for the sins of all mankind.  

Truth is He arose 3 days later conquering sin, death and the grave.  

Truth is He only awaits the word from the Father to return to take the dead in Christ first, then those who are alive in Christ. 

Truth is everyone will be without excuse before Jesus.  Everyone will not have anything to stand on as to why they rejected salvation in Christ Jesus alone. 

Truth is everyone will have that opportunity to receive Salvation. 

Truth is in this war of souls, the enemy of God doesn't want anyone to know these truths. 

He wants people to come to him.

He wants the worship and adoration that belongs to God. 

He wants the Throne of God. 

He knows the Bible. 

He has tried for 6,000 or so years, to prove even one word of it wrong. 

He knows that if he can't win, it's spelled out exactly what is GOING to happen to him.

You...

You...must seek truth versus the lie.

You...regardless of what you want the world to look like...need to know for sure that you are saved.  There is no second chances when you die. 

You...if you are a believer...should be found doing the business of the Father. 

You...if you aren't a believer...need to ask yourself why you are being so blind to the truth. 

You...the warfare is real.  The battlefield is your mind and for your soul. 

Sticking your head in the sand will change nothing. 

Satan is not more powerful than God.  

The facts are spelled out in the Bible. It must be fulfilled.  Our world is heading towards the last chapter of the Bible. 

It's a war raging that the lives of people hang in the balance. Believers pray for themselves and others. They should be praying for those not saved yet. But know this, they also pray for the return of Christ. 

Whereas God isn't willing that any should perish, there is going to be a day when that Chapter has to happen. The rest of the Bible has to play out.  

Your life isn't as unique as you think it is.

Scripture says that the challenges we face are common to mankind.  You must choose your way or God's way. 

The twinkling of an eye cannot be measured.  Yet I can tell you that it's faster than the speed of thought.  To come as a thief implies it's going to happen faster than you are prepared for it to happen. 

This world will be in the throes of life happening when Christ returns.  

Will you be one who longs for that day or one who lives in fear of that day because you haven't chosen Christ?  

You will not fool Jesus.  He will be the one to personally separate those who are saved from those who are not. 

Know today.