Whose God is Their Belly

I recently saw a post concerning a person who had some friends visiting that were "foodies" and wanted to know where was the best place to take them to eat. 

Foodie means "A person who has an ardent or refined interest in food, and who eats food not only out of hunger but also as a hobby. The related terms "gastronome" and "gourmet" define roughly the same thing, i.e. a person who enjoys food for pleasure."

The term "foodie" and people proudly proclaiming to be one is growing.  

Yet the Bible has this to say in Philippians 3:19

....whose god is their belly, 

and whose glory is in their shame, 

who mind earthly things.

"Whose god is their belly" = appeasing the appetite and fulfilling the desires and lusts of the tastebuds control that person.  

Don't let your belly (your appetite) rule you for what rules and controls you will be what you serve.   It will become an idol to you. 

"Whose glory is in their shame" = this type a person will boast about loving food and pleasing the appetite.  Some proudly proclaim to be a food snob. They glory in it. :( 

They don't recognize in proclaiming such things they are minding 'earthly things' rather than the spiritual.

I will go a little further with this admonition...

There are those who will claim they cannot fast due to a health condition or issue.  There are legitimate medical reasons why a person may not be able to fast for a full day or even half a day, but those are rare. 

God knows if you genuinely cannot fast or if you are using it as an excuse.  Are you able to 'fast' when a doctor instructs you to in order to run a test? It is unto God that you are to fast, and it is before Him we each will stand to give answer and account. 

Therefore,  we have to examine our hearts before God and get to the root of the reason: 

Is it a true medical issue? 

If it is, there are other things you can sacrifice and give up for a length of time.

Is it that I struggle denying this flesh of food and cover this reason with excuses? 

I understand the struggle.  It is denying this flesh of what it really wants and that is where the true battle is.  But it is worth it for what you gain in the Spirit!

Don't fast begrudgingly.  

Fast reverently before the Lord. 

Don't let your belly be what you serve.  

The Singers Sang LOUD

Nehemiah 12:42 - and the singers sang LOUD...

If you ever think the music in Church is too loud....it goes all the way back to the Old Testament times. :) 

Concerts are loud and demonstrative yet most don't complain. You're looked at as odd if you're not joining in. 

Ball games are loud and demonstrative yet most do not complain. You're looked at as odd if you're not joining in. 

Yet many go to a Church, sit quietly, and look at someone who gets a little loud and demonstrative in their worship as odd. 

Oh no, it's supposed to be the opposite! 

God deserves our worship and praise more! 

Make it loud! 

Make it demonstrative!

Don't be afraid to dance before the Lord as David did. He endured mocking from his own wife because of it, but he continued on and responded, "I will become MORE undignified than this!" BECAUSE he knew God was worthy and deserving of so much more than what we give!

God INHABITS (comes to dwell) the praise of His people!

Don't be ashamed to worship and praise the Lord! Make His praise LOUD! He deserves it!

Not 'my words'

Not what 'my religion' believes

It's the Word of God....

Rom 8:9 - 

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, 

IF so be that THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELL IN YOU. 

NOW IF ANY MAN HAVE NOT 

THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST,

HE IS NONE OF HIS.

Rom 8:10 - 

And IF CHRIST BE IN YOU,

the body is dead because of sin; 

but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Rom 8:11 - 

BUT IF the Spirit of him that raised up 

Jesus from the dead dwell in you, 

he that raised up Christ from the dead 

shall also QUICKEN (make alive) YOUR MORTAL BODIES BY HIS SPIRIT that dwelleth in you.

1Co 3:16 - 

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, 

and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Do you have the Spirit of Christ IN you?

If not, He wants to give you the precious gift of the Holy Ghost.

 Isaiah 55

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We need to repent for every time we've tried to do things 'our' way then seek to live and do things GOD'S way.

CONVICTION - It’s a Good Thing!

 John 16:13

Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come,
He will guide you into all Truth…

Have you ever done something wrong or started to do something but felt guilty about doing it?

Something deep inside tells you that you shouldn’t be doing whatever it is (whether stealing, lying, cheating, etc).

Once you have the Holy Ghost, we should feel that feeling of guilt whenever we do something that is a sin.

It’s called Conviction.

I was listening to KLOVE a few years back and kept hearing them play a young woman’s call in concerning how she felt about the radio station.

I didn’t pay attention to the first part of what she said, but the last part caught my attention.  She said,

“…when I listen to KLOVE, I don’t feel any conviction,
and that’s a good thing.”

Is it really a good thing?

People confuse conviction with condemnation.

Conviction means to ‘convince of error or sinfulness’.

Condemnation means ‘the expression of very strong disapproval, to blame, to pronounce guilt.

Condemnation makes a person feel hopeless.

But the feeling of conviction helps a person know they are doing wrong.

God put within each person a conscience to give a feeling of guilt, not to condemn, but to help steer a person away from sin and prod them to do what is right.

The Holy Ghost will convict us when we’re doing wrong if we will listen.

If we don’t feel that little nudge of conviction when we’re doing something wrong, then we need to examine our prayer life a little more closely to see if we’re not praying as much or like we should. 

Proverbs 14:12 warns…

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.

There is a tendency for a person to consider their self and their ways righteous.

They don’t see anything wrong with how they’re living or what they’re doing.

Example: King David – he tried to cover his sin of committing adultery with Bathsheba by having her husband killed and then marrying her. 

He may or may not have felt a little guilt over what he’d done – the Bible doesn’t say.  But I think he was more-so concerned with not getting caught.

When his sin was revealed though Nathan the prophet in a parable, he still didn’t feel the conviction he needed to.  He listened to the story of the stolen lamb and became angry at the man who had stolen it from his neighbor.

King David did not see himself as the man in the mirror until Prophet Nathan pointed his finger and said, “THOU art the man!”  That was when he finally and truly repented for the wrongs he had done. Two innocent lives paid for his transgression….Uriah, Bathsheba’s first husband, and the baby conceived in adultery.

 

Everyone thinks they’re a Christian and saved nowadays, despite living a life that is completely contrary to Scripture.

They’ll smoke, drink, cuss, yell, scream, and live in fornication or adultery yet still insist they’re saved and on their way to Heaven.

They think they’re on the right road going the right way, but if the way they are living is opposite of the way the Bible says to live then they are not on the right path.

I saw a tombstone one time with the saying, “He did it his way.”

That’s a sad way to live yet that’s the way so many want and choose to live. 

People today do not want anyone to tell them the way they’re living is wrong and a sin. 

They don’t want anyone to say anything that may make them feel conviction concerning their sinfulness.

We should not try to live life ‘our way’ but instead we should be trying to live our life ‘God’s way.’

We need to pray daily so that the Holy Ghost can lead and guide us in the way we are to live.

2 Corinthians 7:10
     For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation (CONVICTION)
     not to be repented of:
     but the sorrow of the world worketh death. (CONDEMNATION)

The purpose of feeling ‘conviction’ is not to condemn us
or cause us to just give up.

It’s there to lead and guide us back onto the right path when we start to stray on to the wrong path.

It was conviction that caused those gathered in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost to repent of their sins and turn to serve Jesus. 

Acts 2:37
          Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart,  
          and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and
          brethren, what shall we do?

The Bible records that there were 3000 souls added to the Kingdom that day as they turned from their sins, were baptized in Jesus name and were filled with the Holy Ghost.

John 16:7-8

Nevertheless I tell you the truth;
it is expedient (important) for you that I go away: for if I go not away,
the Comforter (Holy Ghost) will not come unto you;
but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin,
and of righteousness, and of judgment.

 

The purpose of the Holy Ghost is to convict us of sin, show us what we’re doing wrong, and then lead us into living right before God.

Jesus said in Revelation 3:19, “As many as I love, I rebuke (convict) and chasten; be zealous therefore and repent.

Jesus is in essence saying, “I convict those I love.”

It’s the love and mercy of Jesus that brings conviction to your life.

Once we feel that conviction that we’ve sinned (meaning done something that is wrong in God’s eyes), the next thing we need to do is acknowledge our sin to God and ask Him to forgive us.

1 John 1:9

If we confess (admit) our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Just as we forgive our children when they admit they’ve done something wrong, God does the very same.

He said He’s faithful and just to forgive us of our sins IF we confess and admit we’ve done wrong…whether it’s in feelings, thoughts, actions, or words.

Once we admit and ask God to forgive us, we need to try our best not to do the sin again.

 

WHAT IF I DON’T FEEL CONVICTION
OR THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG TO DO?

We must always follow and obey what the Bible says about it regardless of whether we feel bad about something or not.  

Your ‘feelings’ can deceive you.

A popular saying is to ‘follow your heart’ but the Bible says….

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked: who can know it?

You can not follow after your feelings.  You have to follow the Bible.

Because the heart is desperately wicked and will deceive a person into doing wrong while ‘feeling’ that there’s nothing wrong with what they’re doing.

Sadly, there are people who will steal and never feel bad about what they were doing yet the Bible clearly says that stealing is a sin.

 

People fornicate or commit adultery, ‘shack up’ living with someone they’re not married to yet they don’t see anything wrong with it. 

The Bible calls it sin and warns against it over and over saying that anyone who commits fornication or adultery cannot have a part in God’s Kingdom.

 

A common problem today even within the ‘church’ is people see nothing wrong with telling what is considered ‘a little white lie.’

There is no such thing!  A lie is a lie whether it’s little or big, whether it’s completely fabricated or merely twisting or omitting parts of the truth to avoid a sticky situation.

 

The Bible says,

But the fearful, and unbelieving,
and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and idolaters,
and all liars, shall have their part
in the lake which burneth with fire  and brimstone:
which is the second death.
Rev 21:8

Yet people, even someone who claims to be a Christian, will twist the truth and not feel bad about lying.  They’ll excuse and reason it away…. “I didn’t want them to be mad.” Or “it’s better if they don’t know the truth.” Or “it really isn’t lying.” Etc.

The Bible says ALL liars shall have their part in the lake of fire.

We need to let the Holy Ghost convict us and not ignore it.   The Bible will never direct us to do wrong. 

Conviction leads us to repentance – turning away from, shunning, forsaking sin.

God loves us too much to leave us the way He found us.

If a person is not feeling conviction over something the Bible clearly calls a sin, that’s NOT a ‘good thing.’

He gives us the Holy Ghost to lead us, guide us, and direct us in the paths of righteousness (right living). 

But we have to allow Him to convict us. Then we need to listen to the little nudges that His Spirit gives and obey Him.

Conviction IS a ‘Good Thing’! 

 

Be Ye Kind & Walk In Love

Ephesians

4:31 Let all bitterness, (it's poison to the those who harbor it and those it's aimed toward)

and wrath, (fierceness,  extreme anger)

and anger, (strong feeling of hostility)

and clamour, (shouting vehemently,  strong & loud demand)

and evil speaking, (vilification,  abusively spread nasty stories about someone)

be put away from you, 

with all malice: (intention or desire to do evil or ill will to someone)

4:32 And BE YE KIND one to another, 

tenderhearted, (compassionate, sympathetic)

forgiving one another, 

even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

5:2 And WALK IN LOVE, as Christ also hath loved us,

Baptism - Matthew 28:19

Baptism - Matthew 28:19

Jesus instructed His disciples to teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  

We should follow Jesus' teachings and baptize according to how He instructed, correct?

Peter was present when Jesus gave these instructions in Matthew 28:19.  So were the other Apostles. 

Peter was present when Jesus taught His diciples HOW to baptize in John 4:1. So were the other Apostles.  

Yet, Peter stood up with the 11 Apostles on the Day of Pentecost and instructed EVERY ONE to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:14, 38)

That's different from what Jesus said in Mt 28:19 ...or is it? 

How come none -->not a single one<-- of the Apostles protested when Peter said that? 

How come none of them vehemently argued that Jesus said to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost?

They knew that Jesus said in the NAME.

Jesus had taught them HOW to baptize. 

The Apostles all knew what that NAME is = Jesus 

Notice throughout the Book of Acts where they are going to all nations, teaching and baptizing,  they always baptized in the NAME of JESUS.  

NO WHERE can you find that they said 'Father, Son, and Holy Ghost' when baptizing because those are NOT names, they are titles. 

Ananias commanded Paul, a new convert, to be baptized to wash away his sins calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16)

If HOW someone is baptized is so important that Paul would take time to teach 'certain disciples' and then RE-Baptize them in the NAME of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19), wouldn't you think it's important enough for you to do the same?

Jesus instructed in Luke 24:47...

And that repentance and REMISSION OF SINS should be preached in His NAME among all nations...

Peter instructed as Jesus taught him and the Apostles.... (Acts 2:38)

Repent, and be baptized

EVERY ONE OF YOU

IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST 

for the remission of sins

and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Have you been baptized in Jesus name? 

There is salvation in no other; for there is no other NAME under heaven given among men whereby we MUST be saved.  Acts 4:12

FLEE from Sexual Sins

Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 1 Cor 6:13

Fornication = g4202 = pornei'a (wherewe get the word porn from), harlotry including adultery and incest.

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid! 1 Cor 6:15

When someone who claims to be a Christian looks at p***, or entertains lustful thoughts, commits fornication, adultery, incest, etc they are making the body of Christ into members of harlotry. The two cannot cohabitate. 

FLEE FORNICATION! (Run away from it! Shun it! Everything mentioned in the above definition) 

Don't be deceived. Those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor 6:9-11

And such WERE some of you. If you've been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus then don't return to wallow in the muck and mire of sin. 

FLEE from it! It's not worth your soul or eternity.

I don't know why I felt to post this but God is trying to warn somebody. Listen to God's voice.

...having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:4 (G1939 - longing especially for what's forbidden)

The corruption that is in the world has come because of lust.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that do with the will of God abideth forever.  1 John 2:15-17

EVERY MAN THAT HATH THIS HOPE in him PURIFIETH HIMSELF

 1 John 3

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; for we shall see Him as he is.

3 And EVERY MAN THAT HATH THIS HOPE in him PURIFIETH HIMSELF, even as He is pure.

One day soon, we will see Jesus face to face. When he shall appear we shall be like Him. 

Those that have this hope IN them, are purifying their hearts and minds, repenting of every sin, and doing what God has commanded in His Word to make their selves ready. 

Jesus is coming for a bride without spot or wrinkle. Sin cannot enter there.

Are you making yourself ready?

Have you repented of all your sins ? 

Have you washed your sins away in the waters of baptism calling on the name of Jesus just as Ananias commanded Paul to do in Acts 22:16? 

Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? Acts 19 (Since = from that time until now) It's not too late.  Jesus wants to give you the precious gift of the Holy Ghost.

Jesus is coming soon. 

WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM!

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Acts 22:16

Why delay? Time is winding down quickly.  

Arise, and wash away your sins in the waters of Baptism calling on the name of the Lord Jesus.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM

 THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS

THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM

 

The phrase “fear of the Lord” is mentioned 14 times in the book of Proverbs (King James Version – it only mentions it 10 times in the NIV).    The admonition to “fear the Lord” is mentioned once within this same Biblical book.

The Bible mentions ‘fear’ when referring to God over 300 times.

Through the years, I’ve heard some try to excuse and water down this phrase of instruction by saying it just means to ‘reverence’ God.  They will even go so far as to teach that we don’t have to ‘fear’ God because God is love.  He’s our Father.

Yes, God is loving and He is our Father, but He is also still God. He is a God of love and mercy, not wanting any to perish, but He is also a God of judgment for those who willfully disobey and refuse to repent.

I looked up the definition of the words translated as fear according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance which shows us the definitions according to the original Greek and Hebrew words.

·        H3374 = Fear; morally, reverence

·        H3372 = to fear; morally, to revere; cause to frighten, afraid

·        H3373 = fearing; morally reverent: afraid

You can see that each use has basically the same meaning and why the word ‘fear’ was used in the translation. The Scriptures instructing us to ‘fear’ God mean what they say….literally.

The watering down of the meaning is the devil’s tool to sooth the conscience and cause people to feel comfortable continuing in their sins rather than turning from them.

 

This Scripture caught my attention the other day as I opened my Bible….

Psalm 99:1 – The LORD reigneth; let the people TREMBLE

Tremble means (H7264) to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear); be afraid, stand in awe, quake, shake, tremble.

My eyes were next drawn to this Scripture….

Psalm 97:1-2 – The LORD reigneth….righteousness AND judgment are the habitation of His throne.

God’s throne sits on righteousness AND judgment.

Righteousness is doing right morally or legally, justice (H6664)

Judgment is the verdict (whether favorable or unfavorable) including the act, the place, the crime, and the penalty.  (H4941)

We are free to choose, but we are not free to choose the consequences of our choices. That is why we all need to get back to having a healthy fear of God.

 

Proverbs 16:6 – By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

 

God will purge and forgive us of our sins when we repent and turn from them. Yet, it is by the fear of the Lord that men depart from evil.

When you truly fear God and the consequences of those bad choices, it will cause you to turn away from temptation and keep you from sinning. Having a healthy fear of God will keep you from willfully sinning. 

You get a healthy fear of God when you stay FULL of the Holy Ghost.  Staying FULL of the Holy Ghost is what helps to keep sin out of your life.

 

Job wisely said….

Job 28:28 – The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding

If we do sin, we have an advocate that we can go to, confess and repent of our sins, and when we do, the Bible assures us that God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins AND cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 2:1 + 1 John 1:9)

The Bible has something to say about those who refuse to listen to Godly instruction. It referencing those who try to excuse Scripture away.  Those who try to justify and say this Scripture or that Scripture does not mean what it says.  You can show them a Scripture that is plain and clear concerning salvation or sin, yet they will not listen. You can warn them with tears using Scripture, yet they refuse to listen to you or a preacher.  They refuse to obey God.

 

Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prov 1:28-30 – Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They would none of my counsel:

These Scriptures are not referring to the rejection of earthly knowledge.  They are referring to the rejection of the knowledge concerning what God and His Word says.

Hosea 4:6 - My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: 

Don't reject the knowledge of God.  

Don't reject the preaching and teachings of your Pastor.

God issues a strong warning concerning the consequences of rejecting His Word, His laws, His commandments,  His instructions. 

Fear God and keep His commandments. 

 

Proverbs 2:5 – Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

 

The fear of the Lord will keep us from hating the Word of God, the preaching, the teaching while loving the things of this world.  

 

Psalms 111:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments

 

Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Proverbs 15:16 – Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Prov 15:33 – The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.

Psalm 19:9 – The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Prov 19:23 – The fear of the Lord tendeth to life:

Prov 22:4 – By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.

Prov 23:17 – Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

Psalm 2:11 – serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. (there’s that instruction again to TREMBLE before the Lord).

Prov 24:21 – My son, fear thou the Lord and the king

          Many will fear the rulers of this world but yet are not wise enough to fear the Lord.

 

We understand and see that we need to fear the Lord, but WHAT is the fear of the Lord?

 

Psalm 34:11 – Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Proverbs 8:13 – The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.

 

The fear of the Lord is to tremble and be afraid before Him for He is a holy God and requires holiness from us as well.  It is also to hate evil.

Hating evil means more than just hating it in real life.  We hear about things which make us shake our head and think ‘that is awful!’  

Yet,  many will not think anything about watching it in a movie or tv show or reading it in a murder mystery book or love novel. 

The Bible talks about hating the froward (meaning perverse) mouth yet they’ll be ok with hearing it at a comedy show or in a tv show, etc. Many will excuse it away as ‘well, that’s not real.’ No, it may not be, but does that make it ok? So, murder is ok as long as it’s in a book or movie?  Adultery or fornication is overlooked as long as it’s in a movie or book and makes it look justified?

Wrong is wrong no matter how it’s presented. It desensitizes people to sin and gradually builds an acceptance of it. We should not enjoy these things whether it be in real life situations or in movies, tv shoes, in books, or any music we listen to. 

The Bible instructs us to set no wicked thing before our eyes. (Psalm 101:3)

When you fear God, you won’t want to.

We need to get a healthy fear of God.  We need to pray this same prayer that David prayed. 

Psalm 86:11 – Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy Truth: unite my heart to fear Thy name.

 

There is a blessing and promises in fearing the Lord…

Psalm 112:1 – Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments.

Psalm 25:14 – The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and He will shew them His covenant.

Psalm 33:18 – Behold, The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in His mercy.

Psalm 34:7 – The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.

Psalms 34:9 – O fear the Lord, ye His saints

Psalm 103:17 – But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him

Psalms 115:11 – Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield.

Psalms 115:13 – He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.

Psalms 128: 1 – Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways.

Psalms 147:11 – The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.

Proverbs 10:27 – The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Proverbs 14:26-27 – The fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snare of death

 

Psalm 96:9 – O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth.

 

Deut 13:4 – Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him.

Deut 8:6 – Therefore, thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him.

Deut 6:2 – That thou mightiest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life.

 

What is the conclusion of all this?
Solomon wisely learned then taught in Ecclesiastes 12:13…..

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
FEAR GOD and
KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS:
for THIS is the whole DUTY of man.

Moved with compassion

I was thinking just this morning of a young man I see often in the grocery store because he works there.  He is bound and doesn't realize it. Every time I see or walk past him, I pray for his deliverance and salvation.  

For some reason he came to my mind this morning as well as the thought that we must be moved with compassion for these souls just as Jesus was moved with compassion.  

We are to be more than Matthew 24. We are to be Isaiah 61 as well.

My God shall supply all your need IF....

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

This is a verse we all love to quote, hold fast to, and share with others in their time of need. 

But have you ever stopped to read the preceding verses? The reason Paul assured them of this when concluding his letter to the Philippian Church?

Read verses 10-18 = they were the only ones who checked on Paul and sent supplies to help him with his needs. 

Paul assured them it was not because he was desiring people to give gifts to him, but their giving,  care, and generosity to take care of the ministry was showing FRUIT. (Vs 17)  It was showing they were growing spiritually and had the mind of Christ.

It is the law of sowing and reaping. 

You want God to supply all your needs?

Make sure you are faithfully giving your tithes, your offerings (these are required by God, not man or the Church - Malachi 3:8), remember to bless the ministry (pastors, evangelists, missionaries). 

I do not post this because I am a pastor's wife or because there is a need. I am posting what God opened my understanding to this morning.  

Giving shows Fruit and it a sweet smell, a sacrifice,  acceptable,  well pleasing to God. (Vs 18)

For everyone Promise,  there is something God expects from us.

Acts 19

In Acts capter 19, Paul came to Ephesus and found some Disciples there. They believed on Jesus.  They loved Jesus.  They were trying to live for Jesus as best they knew how. 

Paul asked them, "Have you received the Holy Ghost SINCE  you believed?" (Since means between then and now.)

They answered Paul that they had not even heard whether there was such a thing as the Holy Ghost.

So then Paul asked how they were baptized.

They answered that John the Baptist had baptized them.

Paul explained the Scriptures to them and the need to believe on Jesus. Being baptized was not enough. They had to be re-baptized in the name of Jesus.

WHEN THEY HEARD THIS, THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.  (vs 5)

After, Paul laid his hands on them and the HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM; and they SPAKE WITH TONGUES and prophesied. 

We find, according to this passage of Scriptures, that believing on Jesus alone is not sufficient.  If it was, Paul would have said great and just went on his way. But Paul explained to them the need to be baptized. And not just baptized anyway but baptized IN THE NAME OF JESUS.  

After they were baptized, he didn't leave it as though receiving the Holy Ghost was optional. He laid hands on them, and as the Holy Ghost came on them they SPAKE WITH TONGUES. 

Jesus has that same wonderful gift available to you. Come, be baptized in the only name by which we are saved and let Jesus fill you with the Holy Ghost.

That We Might Understand Thy Truth

That We Might Understand THY Truth

All this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might 

(1) turn from our iniquities, and 

(2) understand THY Truth. 

Daniel 9:13

That we might understand THY Truth

and turn from our iniquities 

To understand THY Truth

and repent (turn) from all sin

We're so quick to claim the Promises of God - what God will do for us - but how much do we SEARCH the Scriptures to see what God requires of us? 

There are 66 Books in the entire Bible. 

How much of those 66 Books are you reading?

It needs to ALL, every single chapter, verse, and word.

Because whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for us to learn from. (Romans 15:4)

We need to seek for HIS Truth

Not just what we THINK is Truth

It's written in the pages of the Bible 

We need to seek to understand HIS Truth

and turn from our iniquities

Be Not Deceived

I've had a few at times tell me "just talk about the love of God. Quit talking about all this other stuff." 

Yes, God is love and He loves you too much to leave you in the filth of sin clothed with the beggarly elements of this world.  Sin cannot enter Heaven's gates. 

It is out of His great love and not willing that any should perish that He lays it on the hearts of some to cry out for the need to repent, get sin out of our lives, and obey Jesus' instructions to be born again.  Time is running out. 

Too many are deceived into believing they can live any way they want, do whatever they want, talk however they want and still go to heaven. But the Bible warns in in Galatians 5:19-21.....

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these:

Adultery, 

fornication, 

uncleanness = physical or moral impurity

lasciviousness = intense or unbridled desire

20 Idolatry = anything put before God

witchcraft = fortune telling, horoscopes, anything to do with witches, scorcery, demonic activity,  etc

hatred, 

variance = strife, quarreling 

emulations = jealousy,  malice

wrath = fierce anger

strife, 

seditions = divisions

heresies,

21 Envyings, 

murders, 

drunkenness, 

revellings = rioting 

and such like: 

of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT inherit the kingdom of God.

And we're warned again in 1 Corinthians6:9-10....

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall NOT inherit the kingdom of God? 

BE NOT DECEIVED: 

neither fornicators, 

nor idolaters, 

nor adulterers, 

nor effeminate, 

nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, 

nor covetous, 

nor drunkards, 

nor revilers, 

nor extortioners, 

shall inherit the kingdom of God.

The good news is: such WERE some of you.  

You don’t have continue living in sin. 

There is hope, joy, and peace when we have been WASHED, and SANCTIFIED, and JUSTIFIED in the NAME of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:11)

Yes, God loves you very much. But He loves you too much to leave you as you are. When you're born again, you will become a new creature. You will not be the same and you will not stay the same. Be not deceived. Come, let Jesus transform your life. 

LABOR to enter

 Today we've celebrated Labor Day. 

Labor Day was originally designed to honor workers as part of the American organized labor movement.

The definition of Labor means:

* work, especially hard physical work.

* work hard; make great effort.

* have difficulty in doing something despite working hard.

Hebrews 4:11 instructs us to "labor" to enter into that rest. 

Living for God takes work, hard work! 

We cannot just live however we want and do whatever we want and expect to make it to heaven. It takes great effort. 

It takes seeking God's face and searching the scriptures daily to make sure we're living God's way and not our own.

It takes denying the flesh of its wants and desires. 

It takes becoming a Living Sacrifice unto God.

Are you "laboring" (working hard) to enter into that rest?

Walk in the spirit and not after the flesh

Romans 8

1 ...walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

4 ...walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; 

but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; 

but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God...

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 6:16

No ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom you obey.

Romans 6:12-13

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but

YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD

Galatians 5:16 - walk in the Spirit 

Galatians 5:18 - Be led of the Spirit

Galatians 5:25 - live in the Spirit....walk in the Spirit

Walk in the spirit and not after the flesh.

Faith Without Works

Faith Without Works

James 2

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

17 EVEN SO FAITH, IF IT HATH NOT WORKS, IS DEAD,, BEING ALONE.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I WILL SHEW THEE MY FAITH BY MY WORKS.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD?

21 Was not Abraham our father JUSTIFIED BY WORKS, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and BY WORKS WAS FAITH MADE PERFECT?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that BY WORKS A MAN IS JUSTIFIED, AND NOT BY FAITH ONLY.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, SO FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD also.

It takes more than just believing.