Month: October 2025

The Fig Tree

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And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry:
And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing thereon: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.  And Jesus answered and said unto it,
“No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.”
And His disciples heard it. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.  And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto Him, “Master, behold, the fig tree which Thou cursedst is withered away.”
Mark 11:12-14, 20-21

The fig tree in Old Testament is sometimes used as a reference to the nation of Israel.  Consider for example Isaiah chapter 5:1-7;  Hosea 9:10;  Joel 1:7,  and there are a few more.

On this same day Jesus went into the Temple and drove the crooks and thieves out of the House of Prayer for all nations giving it a cleansing from doing business for the Passover, and ripping people off, stealing by deceit, in order to make money for themselves and the Temple.

What can followers of Jesus learn from this event in the life of Christ?  One thing to me is quite clear – that is that Jesus is not pleased,  nor is He praise fruitlessness.  If this fig tree was cursed , because it bore no fruit, while it was boasting of having fruit it did not have; we are reminded of that we as Christians are to bear fruit for Jesus, and through Him.

Every true Christian is much more than a professor of Christ Jesus.  We have evidence (fruit) in our lives and have confessed that Jesus is Lord of our lives, and  live what we believe.  The fruit we bear will include, love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-26).  Another thing is you will love God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and you will love His people who are His church, and be faithful in attending a local Body of Christ.

I do not want anyone who comes here to leave this site still in a state of unbelief.  I want you to be saved, and very fruitful for the Lord’s sake,  The alternative is not what you would want.  Remember the fig tree that bore no fruit, even though by having leaves said it did.

Out Of The Heart

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And when He had called all the people unto Him, He said unto them,
“Hearken unto Me every one of you, and understand: there is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”
And when He was entered into the house from the people, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  And He saith unto them,
“Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?”
And He said,
“That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,  thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:  all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
Mark 7:14-23

Everyone born into this world comes into this world a sinner, except for One.  He is the one speaking above about what defiles us; and that it is not anything outside us.

All the evil that we do comes from an evil heart.  The prophet Jeremiah said, “The heart of man is deceitful, above all things, and desperately wicked.  Who can know it?”  (Jeremiah 17:9).  Only God knows what is  in our hearts.  If you have hatred in your heart for a neighbor, a former spouse, your boss at work, even the one who spit in your face and called you a female dog, then that comes from an evil heart.

There is only one answer for out deliverance from evil in our hearts.  The answer is a new heart.  Know that we are not speaking about this blood pump that keeps us going, but we are talking about a changed way of life.  It happens through the work of Jesus Christ and His life; His death on the cross for our sins, His burial, and resurrection.  When Jesus becomes your Lord and Savior your desires will change.  You no longer want live in sinful behavior.  Jesus mentions many of those transgressions in the above text.  You will desire to do what is right, good, and holy to live a life that glorifies the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Would you like to have a change of heart?  Would you like to have an eternity that you can look forward to?  Then  call on the One who gives it to all who will come to Him, His name is Jesus.

The Sword With A Lesson

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And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.  Then said Jesus unto him,
“Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.  Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?”
Matthew 26:51-54

There is a time and a place to use the sword.  This was not the time, nor the place to use the sword.  Too late, Peter learned that lesson.  That man Peter struck with the sword was a blessed man, whether he realized it or not.  Peter was bit aiming for his ear.

Peter had not heard very much our Lord said before this night, about being turned over by a betrayer, being crucified, buried, and raised again to life.  He was defending his Messiah, no matter what Jesus said.  In the account of the Gospel of Luke Jesus reaches up to the man who lost his ear, and gave him a new ear (Luke 22:50-51).

Jesus our Lord told Peter to put the sword away into its place; which was  probably back in it sheath, or his belt.  Then, Jesus goes on to tell Peter that He could pray to His Father, and He would send twelve legions of angels to defend Him.

Jesus was more concerned about the fulfilling of Scripture than He was in saving His own life.  He was more concerned about obedience to His Father than His own life.  He was more caring and loving, because He was making a living, holy, righteous sacrifice of His own life.

If Jesus would have failed to go to the cross we would all still in our condemnation (John 3:17-21), and we would all be condemned forever.  I am thankful He did not choose to call for the angels.  I am thankful such a great salvation, that my Lord and Savior paid my sin debt.

When you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that He rose from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9-10).

A Matter of The Law

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But when the Pharisees had heard that He had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.  Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying,  “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?”  Jesus said unto him,
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.’   On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:34-40

Jesus has just silenced the argument of the resurrection.  The Sadducees were non spiritual.  It seems they believed in God in their own weird way, yet did not believe in angels, miracles, and other like things.  They had asked Jesus a question which is absurd anyway, and Jesus answered with “You do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God”  (Matthew 22:29).  He pointed out to them that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The God of the living, meaning that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were still alive and God would someday raise them up from their graves.

This lawyer asked Jesus the question, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?”  Jesus answered using a shorter version of the first four of the Ten Commandments, then told him of the second, and it was a shorter version of the final six of the Ten.

There are some who think that God’s Law no longer matters, however they put themselves in peril, because Jesus warns us in the fifth chapter of Matthew that to teach others to break the law, as well, will be the least in the kingdom of heaven (see Matthew 5:17-20).

For those who believe in Jesus, have trusted Him, and confessed His name these laws have been put into our hearts.  It is the way the Christian, the Christ follower.  With it written in our hearts, to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves is the way we live.

Why then is their strife in many churches over what carpet we are going to get for the floor?  What are we going to do with our pastor, “He preaches too long”?  One commandment Jesus gave those of us who follow Jesus is this, “Love one another”  (John 13:34; 15:12, 17).  The love Jesus has for His own is beyond human understanding, because He loved us so much that He died a horrible, yet marvelous death on that old cross.

So why should we still need the Law of God?  It is in our hearts to live by it.  It is also needed to remind us that we were unable to live it on our own, and to use the Law so the Holy Spirit draws others to Christ Jesus.

The Hardest Thing For Humanity To Do

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Jesus said unto him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.”
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.  Then said Jesus unto His disciples,
“Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
When His disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, “Who then can be saved?”  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them,
“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:21-26

Jesus has just given to the rich young man words of great instruction, and He does not give himself to the word and will of the Lord.  The man had asked Jesus, “What thing might I do that I might receive eternal life?”   Jesus’s answer is basically telling him to obey the law.  Jesus only uses the last six of the 10 Commandments, sums it all up by saying, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  The young man said that he had been obedient to live by them since his youth until this day, then he asked, “What do I lack?”

Jesus gives him an answer that is quite hard to conceive, and is very difficult for someone who has many things materially, yet that is not   this man’s main problem.  He does not need to be perfect, he needs Jesus.  He only sees Jesus as a good man.  He sees his wealth as being more important than repentance, and faith in God or His Son.

Remember the young man was asking what he had to do to have or to earn eternal life.  The Law says, “Obey every commandment, and you will be saved, or right with God.”  James, the brother of our Lord teaches that if we break one law we are guilty of breaking the whole law (James 2:10).

All of Adam kind (mankind) are condemned, and headed toward eternal torment except they are perfectly keeping every law of God which is impossible.  Only one Man has been faithful to the obedience to the Law of God, and that was God’s only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

You cannot earn eternal life.  It is a gift given by God the Father, and the Son to come to earth to die in our place, be laid in a grave, and to be raised by the Spirit of God, never to die again.  Doing so secures our eternal life when we ourselves to Him, and eternal salvation.

The hardest thing for mankind to do is to stop working for their salvation.  We cannot save ourselves from our set path, since we were born into sin, and all its darkness, and condemnation.  Some of you reading this may think that God will see all my good works and deeds, and they will outweigh the bad I have done.  Not so.  If you flaunt your good works before God, He will declare unto you, “O do not know you,”  and you will be cast out into eternal torment.

Jesus is the only was to heaven and to eternal life.  He paid our sin debt which was death, an eternal death which separates from God.

Believe Him.  Call on His name, and be saved by grace through faith in Him alone.  With God all things are possible.

The hardest thing for you to do is to give up trying to earn your salvation from death.  If you will do so though you will find yourself eternally blessed through Christ Jesus.

Rest For the Weary

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“All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.”
“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:27-30

Jesus has just announced a woe upon the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, because they have rejected the words of Jesus, and His life.  There are many religious leaders that lay many burdens of the Law and ritual that is heavy for a man or woman to carry.  Jesus does not do that, back in A.D. 33 or 2025.  He even says, “It is My yoke,” and when we realize who Jesus truly is we will join Him in that yoke.

Now a yoke was for two, made of wood, and possibly some leather. There are those who labor to be good enough to get to heaven, and there are some care not whether there is a Heaven or Hell.  Those who are trying to be good enough need the Spirit of Jesus Christ ( the Holy Spirit) to get them to the point of coming unto Jesus.

Does your load of religious duties weigh you down?  If you do then you need to come to Jesus, and He will give you rest.  When we take up His yoke He is always by our side, He is in fact inside working out His good works, words,  and deeds through you (Ephesians 2:10)

Love Your Enemies

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“Ye have heard that it hath been said, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.’   But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so?”
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48

Love your enemies?  Really!  What a preposterous and crazy thought.  To the human flesh this sounds foolish, and you fear being run over by someone who will take advantage of your love and kindness.

Jesus says also in those verses, “Love your neighbor.”  Jesus was asked that question before He tells us the parable of the “Good Samaritan”  (Luke 10:29-37).  The good Samaritan was the only one who showed the man, who had been beaten and left for dead, love and kindness.

So who is our neighbor?  The stranger who needs help.  The man or woman who is a drug addict who is found lying in the gutter, pleading for help.  The boy or girl who is be abused, and wants help.  We are all neighbors one of another.

I know a young man who was driving, with his family , and they were on their way to town, they went by a neighbors house, and saw a fire burning outside that house from a wood furnace.  He pulled in the driveway, went and knocked on the door.  No one was home, so he told his wife go get the Fire Department, which was close by.  While she was doing that the young man went to the fire, and started pulling the burning wood away from the building.  It was actually started to burn the poles of their carport.  The Firemen showed up and they kept the house from burning.

That is part of what a good neighbor is.  Watching over, and caring for those in need, as we go about  our daily needs

If every one is a neighbor, then that includes enemies.

How can we love those who oppose us, despise us,  and we are to bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us?  There is only one way, and that is to have the love of God in you.  The way to have the love of God in  you is to yield your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, confessing that you are a sinner separated from God, and confessing Jesus as your Lord, and believing that God has raised  Him from the dead.  When you get Jesus, you will receive the Holy Spirit, who is Christ in you – God in you.

The Fire That Cleanses

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“And think not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham to our father:’ for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Matthew 3:9-2

The sins and need for the light of God to shine so that the people of Israel, and the Gentiles might know the true God.  That is what John the Baptizer is addressing.  To the Jew first, and then to the nations of the world.

John is bold in addressing the sin of the religious leaders calling them a “…generation of vipers”, and asking them, “Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”  These were the Sadducees and the Pharisees; and they did not care for John, who unrecognized by them, was God’s messenger sent by God to prepare the way for God’s Messiah.

Notice that John has great respect for the One he is declaring to the people who come out to  hear him that he is not worthy to loosen His shoes.  Of course he is speaking of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The prophet says, “He is mightier than I,” “He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire,”  then John takes to a threshing floor where the grain is separated from the chaff, and shows us what happens to the chaff after the threshing.  The chaff being good for nothing is cast into the fire, and burned up.

Fire is a destructive power when not used properly.  It can be used to destroy.  It can be used for purging the land.  The fire John is speaking of is completely under control and purges the hearts of God’s people so that we might live a righteous, and holy life for Him, and produce more fruit for His glory.

Jesus will separate the wheat from the chaff, and save the wheat, and burn the chaff to have a cleansed floor.  The invitation is “Call on Me and I answer you, and will show you great and mighty things which you do no know” (Jeremiah 33:3).  Will you call on Him.  Surrender your life to Him, and just watch Him work on you and in you.

Be Ready, He Is Coming

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Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
“I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star.”
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let him that heareth say, “Come.” And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  He which testifieth these things saith,
“Surely I come quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Revelation 22:14-21

Far too many pastors and too many people in the pew are afraid to read  The Revelation of Jesus Christ.  It is a book of encouragement, hope, and comfort for those who belong to our Lord.

This text begins with the seventh and final Beatitude of the Revelation.  The first “Blessed” is found in the first chapter verse three.

Note the words of Jesus.  “I am the Root, and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star.”  These words of the Revelation were probably written 20-40 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Jesus is still speaking, and we are not to add to or take anything away from this book.  The ones who add to it are trying to make themselves appear intelligent, or because they think it does not say enough.  The same can be said of those who take away or diminish though they try to say that it is lessor than it  really is.

Then Jesus said, “Surely I come quickly.”  “Well, it’s been two thousand years since He spoke these words. Where is the  promise of His coming?”  Be ready, because no one can know the time of His coming.  The word “Imminent” means “It could happen any time” and that is as God chooses.  So be ready.

If you are not ready for the coming of the Son of God in the  clouds then turn your life over the One who died on the cross, by calling on His name in faith and repentance,  believing that He died for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again, and you will be ready.

The heart of every Christian, the follower of Jesus Christ calls out, “Come Lord Jesus.”

When You Make God A Liar

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If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 John 1:8-10

Can a human being, one of Adam kind make God a liar?  Can Truth become a lie?  The answer to both questions is “No!”

However, when a person hears the truth of God, and they do not believe it nor trust what He says, they are in effect calling God a liar.  It is a sad thing to deny God the Father and Giver of Truth, and call Him a liar.

Rejecting all that Jesus says about Himself, His words of love, mercy and grace.  His death, burial, and resurrection.  Rejecting what He says about His coming again.  These are all calling Him a liar.

The truth is that God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all Truth, and all men, women and children are liars, and that includes myself before I  was redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God who came to take away my sin with His life.  When we believe Him we are believing Truth, not the lies of humanity.

Believe God instead of the words of mankind which are lies when exposed by the light of God’s word.

We cannot make God a liar.  We can make Him out to be a liar in our own minds, and shut Him out.  Get out of that mode immediately or you will perish.  Get out by calling on the name of Jesus; who died for your sins, was buried, and He rose again, and He forever lives and intercedes for us.

The Lord Knows How To Deliver The Godly

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For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:  (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2 Peter 2:4-10

Apostle Peter is writing in this second chapter about false teachers leading people astray from the truth of the gospel.  He tells of their fate, their end, their demise and eternal destruction.  He also tells us that in the historical past  that God did not spare angels that sinned against Him, He spared only eight people from the destruction of the world wide flood, and out of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha  He deliverd Lot, (that righteous  man dwelling among them.

The Lord knows His own.  He knows the ones He has redeemed unto Himself, and He will deliver us from the sins of this darkness.  It will not be without great distress, and chaos in this world.

The Lord knows how to deliver the godly, the righteous ones who have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins, He was buried, and buried He carried our sins far away,  and He rose again, and by rising from the dead He justified those who come to Him, and that is forever.

He knows how to deliver the godly.

You might want to read the Epistle of Jude along with this.

Reading, Exhortation, and Doctrine

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These things command and teach.  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
1 Timothy 4:11-16

It will be better explained as to what the apostle Paul is writing to Timothy about if you will read the whole chapter.  However, verses six through ten will help.

Timothy was a young pastor which Paul had trained, and taught many good and godly things.  Some of it is good reminders of how all Christians ought to live; but especially those who preach the word of God, and lead us in spiritual matters related to the cross of Jesus Christ.

Notice what Paul encourages Timothy to do:  Give attention to reading, probably of the Scriptures in the Church services, but also for one’s own personal growth and benefit; then attention to exhortation, or the explaining the text, then teaching  how that text applies to us; then to doctrine which is teaching or giving instruction of what to do and how to do it.  The Old Testament was all they had.  Some or all of the Gospel accounts may have been in scroll form by the time of Paul.  Paul did write many of the epistles (letters) to the churches he started, and personal ones like the Timothy, Titus, and Philemon Epistles.

The doctrine most precious to continue teaching is that all of Adam kind (mankind) has sinned, and separated from God.  That God in His loving kindness had and has the only way to have fellowship with Him.  That is through the shedding of innocent blood.  The blood of lambs, and bulls and goats was insufficient, requiring daily and annual sacrifice.  All these were pictures/types pointing to the coming of Messiah who would be the perfect blood sacrifice for  our sin.  Jesus Christ fulfills all the prophecies concerning the Lamb of God who came to take away our sin.  Jesus died on the cross for our sin, He was buried, and He rose again the third day proving every word He had spoken concerning Himself.

That is the hill I choose to stand on and fight for.  The cross of Jesus Christ and His coming again.

The Right Hand Man

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Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.
Ephesians 1:20-23

O, what a wonderful way to end a prayer for the Church at Ephesus.  Reminding God, even though He needs no reminder; but we do.  It is easy for we the people of Adam’s kind, to forget how grand and glorious God in Jesus Christ really is.

That prayer that is prayed by the apostle Paul is a prayer that needs to be prayed for today’s churches – the churches that believe the word of God, and follow Jesus Christ.

Notice in the above verses what God has done in Christ Jesus, showing His mighty power when He raised Jesus from the dead.  He then set Him at His own right hand, the right hand Man.  I say that for this reason; the Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5, “There is one God, and one  Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” He is the right hand Man in Heaven.

Because Jesus has risen, He has also ascended into Glory, and is seated with His Father pleading, interceding for all those who are His.  In the verses above we are told that the Father has put all things under His feet.  That means that Jesus has power and authority over all things.  What does that mean for the Church?  That since all things are under His feet  we too have power over these things, or those things which often beset us.  Fear, which many times comes from the realm of darkness.  Relationships; loving our neighbors as we do ourselves.  Obedience to His commandments; we now have the power and authority to keep His commandments, and when we fail to do so we will be grieved by it, and the Holy Spirit who abides in all who know Jesus, He will direct us back to Him.

The Body of Christ, the Church who are the redeemed, the forgiven, the cleansed, believers of Christ Jesus, are His  fullness, and it all comes to us from His grace.  Jesus Christ is the Right Hand Man.

The Peace of God

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Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7

Paul the Apostle was in prison, sent this letter in the hands of a friend and brother in Christ; and he tells the Philippian Church, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say ‘ Rejoice.’ ”  It does not seem that he had much to rejoice in, but he was different from most of us and could rejoice because of who he knows, and what he knows.

He can rejoice because he knows that the Lord is near.  He knows of the patience, the forbearance of these people; let that be known among all the people.  That ( forbearance) is a good thing to practice.

The Apostle tells us here not to be  anxious, worried about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, tell the Lord your situation, and He will give you peace.  He will give you the peace that passes understanding.  The apostle Paul knew this peace and that is how he could tell them to “Rejoice.”

Sitting as a prisoner in a rented house, under guard night and day, the apostle Paul sees God as being bigger and greater than his being imprisoned.  God was doing great and mighty things through Paul’s ministry of prison.  He knew that God is bigger than the walls he was bound to.  God is bigger than Rome, and He is bigger than the universe which He created.

When we see God in His Son Jesus Christ, as being bigger and greater than our fears and worries, then we can have the peace of God that passes all understanding.

Irrevocable

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As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Romans 11:28-32

The Jewish people are enemies only because they have rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They have done so, so that, we Gentiles might become part of God’s kingdom as well as the Jew.

There seems to be a growing trend for some Christian speaker, preachers, teachers, and from all walks of life, teaching that the Church is the new Israel.  That is assuming that God has forsaken the Old Testament Israel, for the Church (which is the Body of Christ).  My question is: If the Church is the new Israel what will happen to Israel?

Verse 29 of our text says, “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance (are Irrevocable).”  Meaning that what God has said in the Old Testament concerning His covenant people will not fail to come to pass.  There are many prophecies of the Old Testament that have not yet come to pass.  Those prophecies and promises cannot be claimed to be the Church’s, except for our encouragement, and education, and growth.

God says, “I will be merciful to whom I will be merciful.”  God chose to blind the eyes of  many Jewish people to bring Gentiles to Himself.  Let us be thankful to the people of Israel for their part in our salvation; for it is through them that we have received our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and from them we have received God’s word.

Antisemitism must stop among those who are Christian or God can set us aside as He has Israel.  God is not one who forsakes His people.  He has a remnant who believe Him and live for Him.  One day all Israel shall be saved (Romans 11:25-27),  The apostle Paul was writing here of his people, not the Church.

“The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.”  It is an encouragement to know that God’s word, prophecies and promises do not change.  It is comforting to know that He does not give up on His people.

The Hope We Are Waiting For

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For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Romans 8:18-25

There are several things for us to consider in these verses of Scripture.  The first thing to think about is comparing any suffering we have had for our serving the Lord Jesus to the glory, the joy, we will have when we see Jesus when He comes for us.

Another thing is that it seems quite clear, that since the fall of Adam, the creation – the earth and the heavens, and everything therein has also suffered, and will rejoice in the sons of God getting their redeemed bodies.  There will be no more earthquakes, raging storms, tsunamis, and no more wars.  All of creation will quit its groaning.  All because the God of glory, the Creator of all that is, has by His love, mercy, and grace redeemed those who come to Him and believe.

This hope we have is not supported by wishful thinking.  It is supported by the promise of God.  As we continue in hope based on faith, we continue with the rest of creation to groan, yet rejoice in the waiting, by continuing to follow the Lord.

Judgment For the Believer

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Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:  (for we walk by faith, not by sight:) we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:6-10

The Christian, the believer, the follower of Jesus Christ is confident knowing that while are alive in this body flesh we are absent from the Lord.  Yet we desire to be absent from this body of flesh and to be present with the Lord.

For that reason we work for His glory that we might be accepted of Him, not for salvation,  but our sanctification.

One day every born again child of God will stand before the Judgment seat of Christ and we will each and every one of us give an accounting of what we did with what He has given us.  This not a judgment that determines our eternal destination – Heaven or Hell – it rather a place of celebration some what like when an Olympic champion receives a medal before the crowd.  There will be none of us grandstanding, saying “Look at my crown(s).”  There will be an accounting of what we did or did  not do that produced fruit that is eternal, or that perishes.

Would you like to become a Believer and follower of Jesus Christ  today?  Believe this.  Jesus Christ came into this world to save lost sinners which is all of humanity.  He saves all who believe on Him, and none who do not believe.  Jesus died on that old cross, He was buried and He rose again.  If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved (Romans 10:9-10).

Put Away… That Wicked Person

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I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:  Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
1 Corinthians 5:9-13

The Church at Corinth had problems that the apostle Paul had to deal with.  One of those problems was sexual immorality.  Some man’s son was going to bed with his father’s wife.  What was the Church at Corinth doing about it?  They were doing nothing about it.  Rather they seemed to be applauding their love and toleration of the immoral behavior.

The purpose of putting away this young man, was to get him to the place of repentance, and to return to the Church cleansed and forgiven (1 Corinthians 5:5).  The Lord Jesus Christ will not tolerate sin among His Body, which is the Church.  He will purge it, and make it clean.  That includes putting away from us that wicked person.  So that they might be tormented by the devil, and they return repentant of their deed or deeds.

Does the Church today need to practice this discipline?

Do the rules of the Church of Corinth belong to the Church today?

Do we do harm by practicing this rule, or does it do good for both the Church and the immoral person?

Jesus Christ died on the cross for all our sins, He was buried, and He rose again.  Because He has died for us we are free from the bondage of sin.  Not freedom to sin; but rather, freedom to live a righteous life.

 

…Increase and Abound in Love…

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Now God Himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

“Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.” v. 11
If we are to care, and to be cared for we must trust our directions to be led by Jesus in us – which is the Person of the Holy Spirit.
Verses 12 – 13 —
“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” vv. 12-13

Paul’s prayer:
1. Increase and abound in love (agape’);
2. In order to “Establish” [be grounded] in heart; set them up as stable, unshakeable sanctuaries of peace;
3. Blameless in God’s holiness – To be holy is to be clean and fit for God’s Spirit to use.
We are called upon throughout the Word to be fit, to be holy for His use and service. Here we are told to be “Blameless in holiness” meaning God’s holiness. We must be clothed in that if we are to be caught up with the rest of the saints.
The saints mentioned here are the souls and spirits of the departed dead in Christ referred to in chapter 4:14.

Worshiping In Prison

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And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.”  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Acts 16:25-34

Paul and Silas found themselves to be prisoners in a Philippian jail.  While it happened that they were praying, they were also singing praises to the Lord, and it was midnight.What were they imprisoned for?  It wasn’t for murder.  It was not for thievery.  It was not even for jay walking. It was for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for delivering a girl from demon and human bondage.

Look at what happened.  God sent an earthquake which unlocked the chains they were bound with; all the prisoners were released, and the doors opened, but they stayed put right where they were.  The jailer was about to take his own life  because he thought the prisoners had all escaped.  Paul calls out to him, saving his life.

The jailer, then asks for a light, and he goes into the cell, and asks the question, that many need to ask; “What must I do to be saved?”

The answer to the Philippian jailer, and to all who are called to ask the question is, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.”  Why does it say, “…And  your house?”  It was because this jailer and his family believed on the Lord Jesus, because of the events of the early morning hours.  The family head is saved, generally speaking when the man of the house follows Jesus Christ the rest of the family will also.

This Philippian jailers life was not only saved from killing himself, he was saved unto eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ, the crucified, buried, and risen Savior of the world.

Will you call on the name of Jesus today?

Obey The Truth

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O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? If it be yet in vain.  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Galatians 3:1-6

False teachers, men who were adding to the gospel, teaching that keeping of the law was a necessity for salvation.  Paul is adamant with them concerning the truth of by grace through faith alone in Christ alone.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is polluted every time there is an addition to the word of the gospel.  The addition of Jewish Law such as circumcision, keeping the annual Feast days such as the Passover  and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the rest.  If we add baptism as a necessity for salvation, then the gospel is tainted with the stench of dead flesh.  The believing thief on the cross might have something to say about that.

Do not add to or diminish anything of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He came into the word to save lost  sinners of whom I am the worst.  Yet He loved me and saved me from my sins, from death, and from Hell.  I believe Him.  How about you?

Ignorance of Prophecy, Yet Fulfilled

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And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.  But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled.  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, “A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you.  And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.”
Acts 3:17-23

Going way back to Moses’s prophecy of a prophet greater than himself and He would be the Messaih who would suffer for the sins of humanity.

Who is this Messiah, also called Christ?  He is the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus.  The only Lord and Savior of the world.

Rolled Back From The Door

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In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of Him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
Matthew 28:1-4

On the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ it was a joyous occasion for all those who loved Him; but it does seem they were surprised by it.  Jesus had told them, many times that He would be put to death and on the third day He would rise again.

Some how they did not understand that the Messiah would die, and be raised to life again.  Now, because Jesus has arisen His disciples will believe, because they have seen Him; yet, Jesus says in the Gospel of John, “Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:29.  That means even you and me, all who believe today.

We solely believe the written, inspired, inerrant word of God to be true in every thing  it tells us about Jesus; the whole counsel of God.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ secures for us assurance that we too will experience resurrection.

The True Vine and His Branches

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I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman.  Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.   If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.   If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.
John 15:1-8

Jesus is the source of our strength, and the the source of any spiritual fruit we might bear.  What is the fruit of the Spirit?  The apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Those branches which bear no fruit are cut away, and is eventually cast into fire for burning.

The branches do not bear the fruit of the Spirit, except they will  abide in the Vine.  Jesus is the vine, the true vine, and the branches which bear fruit are those who continue abiding in Him.  Living in Him bearing the fruit, because He is worthy of our abiding in Him alone.

Let us remain in the vine, Jesus Christ.  He died for our sins, was buried, and He rose again the third day.  Believe Him.   He also said, “I will come again…”  Believe Him.

The Judge Of Unbelievers

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Jesus cried and said,
“He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me. And he that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me.  I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness.  And if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.  He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.  For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.  And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak.”
John 12:44-50

Those who believe in Jesus for salvation, have believed His words, the things He has said and taught.  Those words are true.

Jesus said that He did not come into the world to judge the unbelieving of this world, but He came to save the world.  Which He did by laying down His own life for us.

In the judgment of the last days those who did not believe will face the judgment of the words Jesus spoke, and by the whole of the word of God.

For those who believe are trusting Him, His commandment is everlasting life.  He has paid our debt for sin, by His own death on the cross, being buried, and His resurrection from the grave and death.

If you have not yet believed Him, call out to Him today for salvation, believing every word He has spoken.  He will hear you and He will save.

The judge of unbelievers is the words Jesus has spoken.