Another man's foundation

1 Corinthians 10:12-16

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.

When the already saved change from one church to another and attendance numbers increase, that is not "church growth" nor is it "Revival ". 

We are to be reaching and teaching the lost and making converts out of them.  That is the Great Commission.  

We can not boast about the seeds another man has sown as if they are our own. Someone else sowed those seeds.  Someone else tended that garden.  Someone else labored in tears and prayers and in teaching,  preaching,  and Bible studies trying to help them grow into mature Christians in Christ. 

For whatever reason (let's hope and pray it was with a right heart and for a good reason) they chose to change churches.  

Paul again wrote in Romans 15:20....

20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

I've seen saints and Ministry alike encouraging members from other churches to change to theirs because they are wanting to see an increase of attendance at their Church.  That is not building God's Kingdom.   That is building their own so they may boast.  It is saint stealing if members or ministry of another church encourage someone to switch from the Truth teaching church they're currently attending to attend another.  

God hears our words, sees our actions, our motives, and we must all give account. We must walk circumspectfully and fearfully before God.

Are we building upon another man's foundation? Or upon Christ's?

Let Us Cleanse Ourselves

2 Corinthians 6:16-18 KJV

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17  KJV

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

2 Corinthians 7:1  KJV

1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

Work Out Your Salvation With Fear and Trembling

 ...work out your own salvation with FEAR and TREMBLING.

Philippians 2:12

Why does the Bible instruct to work out your salvation with fear and trembling?  

There is more than just believing on Jesus and then continuing on living any old way.  Pray, read, study, seek, fast for God to show you HIS ways.

The Consequences of Prayerlessness

LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS 

In Rev 2, the Lord told John to write a letter to the Church in Ephesus. He commended them for many things....

*He saw their works and labors
*He saw their patience
*He saw that they couldn't bear those that were evil (they removed them out of their midst)

*They operated in the gift of discerning of spirits and could tell a false apostle from a real one. They found them to be liars and didn't receive them.

*they've labored patiently and endured many things for Christ's name and hadn't grown weary nor fainted.

*they even hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans...those who tried to serve God while also trying to blend in with the world. They were trying to blend with Roman culture and encouraging other Christians to do the same during a time of dire persecution so they wouldn't be singled out. ("Just blend in" "do what everyone else is doing" "there's nothing wrong with it" "God understands and won't condemn us for it" <-- sound familiar? )

But the Ephesians knew not to be conformed to the world or it's ways. They knew you cannot serve 2 masters...a person IS going to love one more than the other until worldliness and compromise overtake a person. They were willing to stand out and suffer for the name of Jesus. And despised the ways of conformity, recognizing the devil's tactics to woo and draw hearts away from Christ with a little compromise here and a little there.

--> YET, the Lord had one thing against them....they'd left their first love!
They had become so busy working for Jesus, so busy standing against sinfulness, that they weren't spending as much time in prayer as they once did.

We can get everything else right. But if we lose that prayer time spent with our First Love, we could lose out eternally. Get back to the early altars. Stay God focused. And don't forget to spend quality time in prayer. 

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A look into the root cause of David's downward spiral into the depravity of sin....

His first sin was not being in battle with his men.

If he had been where he was supposed to be, he would not have been where he was not supposed to be....on the roof overlooking the city which placed him where he could see anyone bathing on their roof.

He may have seen other women bathing but his eyes focused on Bathsheba. His sin here was that he continued to look until lust was conceived in his heart. He continued to feed those lustful thoughts until he couldn't stand it any longer and sent for Bathsheba to be brought to him.

Then after he committed the adulterous act with her, he thought no one would know.....until he received word back (which would have been several weeks later) that she was pregnant.

So to further cover up his sin, he called her husband home. When Uriah did what was honorable and would not go home to his wife while his friends were fighting for their lives, David then digressed more into the depravity of sin by having him killed.

He now was guilty of adultery AND murder.

He married Bathsheba and thought his sins were still hidden. But God knew and sent the Prophet to call him to repentance.

David was once tender before the Lord as a youth and spent much of his time in prayer. But somewhere along the lines as he grew older and perhaps because of his position and duties as king, he was not as close to the Lord as he once was. He was not as tender before the Lord as he once was or he would have felt that hot conviction convincing him not to do those wicked deeds. His prayer life was not as fervent or as frequent as it once had been. He had drifted away from the Lord without realizing how far. His conscious was seared.

UNTIL, God in His mercy sent a Man of God to preach that convicting message that pierced his hardened heart and brought a heartfelt prayer of repentance.

It is a message to us all. We all could be tempted and drawn away of our own lust and enticed (James 1:14) But it begins when the prayer closet is not frequented as often as it used to. Then it's a slow fade from there. Stay in the prayer closet. Keep the fires of prayer stoked and burning brightly.

Modesty

So many today only want to hear about the love of God and become contentious when you mention anything about holiness and modesty.  However....

ALL Scripture is important and profitable from Genesis to Revelation. The inside must be clean first and foremost, but if God cares about the outside, then we must as well. If it didn't matter, then God would have let Adam and Eve continue to wear their skimpy fig leafs (similar to today's swimwear). Instead, He sewed them coats to cover them in modesty.

John the beloved disciple had stripped down to an undercoat while working on the fishing boat after Jesus had been crucified. When he realized Jesus was on the shore, he threw his outer coat back on because he was considered naked in just his undercoat (yet many to day would think he was clothed ). We can't gauge modesty by man's standard. John realized that and threw his outer coat back on. Then -------> get this -----> he jumped in the water FULLY CLOTHED and swam to Jesus. Because John realized and knew that modesty is important and necessary in the life of a child of God.

God's people have always been distinct and set apart. God has never wanted them to look like the rest of the world. There was distinction and separation between Jews and the rest of the world. That's why it was easy to identify and target Jews in hitlers day.

I could give many more examples. Not trying to argue but explaining why the Church believes and teaches as we do.

Holiness is important! Without it, no one shall see the Lord. It's Bible.

Loving God and loving people INCLUDES warning against sinful ways and habits that grieve the heart of God. The greatest love we can show is trying to warn person from going down the wrong path. Pastors are the watchmen on the wall warning against sin. If they don't, that person's blood will be required at their hands when they stand before God in the end.

Ephesians 5:3-8

Let it not be once named among you as becometh saints....

Fornication = harlotry (includes adultery and incest)
All uncleanness = impurity, physically or morally
Covetousness = Greediness, fraud, desiring what someone else has
Filthiness = obscenity
Foolish talking = words that ridiculous but amusing (sexual innuendos for a laugh)
Jesting = (sexual) jokes said or done for a laugh
Whoremonger = Male prostitute
Unclean person = lewd, demonic
Covetous man = eager for gain
Idolaters = worships something other than Jesus.

These things are not convenient (proper) for anyone who claims to be saint.
For we know that none of these shall have any inheritancein the Kingdom of Christ.
Let no man deceive you with vain words (don't make excuses for this type behavior!) For BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

If you claim to be a Christian, you can NOT continue to do these things and be saved. They are the works of darkness and are contrary to the ways of God. Sin cannot enter into heaven. They are the unfruitful works of darkness. You were once in darkness but once you become a Christian, we are to walk as children of Light. 

Ephesians 5:3-8

To the Married

Someone (Pentecostal) posted saying staying in a marriage because you love them is not worth it if you're unhappy.

My reponse......

That's the world's philosophy but anti Biblical. Bro Terry Shock (well known in Pentecost) once said some very wise words... "it's not about being happy. It's about being holy!"

Marriage is not as they portray in love novels and romance movies. Marriage is work. A person can't bail out just because they're not happy or don't feel their spouse is their best friend. There's only one Biblical cause for leaving a spouse....marital unfaithfulness. We need to stick with and teach what the Word says.

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I try to admonish ladies to stop reading love novels and watching romance movies. They usually lead to unrealistic expectations and even disgruntledness in marriage because their husband is not living up to the suave debonair charmer they see portrayed in these. Life is real and marriage will be work.

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"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."
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3-16-21

Platform and Leadership positions

When someone is placed in a leadership role even if singing or playing an instrument on the platform or teaching classes, they are placed in a position for others to follow their lead and example.

I heard a minister say "what you allow on your platform is what will be in the pew.

Those on the pew know the life that person is or is not living. I watched a lady become so confused seeing people in leadership positions who were not dressing or living right. She kept asking WHY they were placed in those positions although we teach to live opposite of the way they were living. It kept getting brushed off. She finally gave up dressing Holy and now dresses immodest and with so much makeup it looks awful. My heartbreaks seeing the regression.

Those who ministered in the Temple had certain guidelines and rules they had to follow or they were removed. They had to purify their self inward and outward removing all sin from their life.

God is a holy God. We are to be holy as well. Paul said follow me as I follow Christ.

Response to a question on March 12, 2021

The LAST Trump

1 Corinthians 15:51-52   KJV

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at THE LAST TRUMP: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18    KJV

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

** It is at the LAST TRUMP sounding that the dead shall be raised back to life and we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

The Last Trump is the Last Trump.  Last means final.   There are no more after it.  It is the Last.

That is the time when Jesus will reign supreme over all the earth, the dead shall be judged, and the righteous shall be rewarded, and the wicked punished. 

Revelation 11:15-18   KJV

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

 Regardless of conspiracy rumors floating around concerning both governments in this war in Ukraine (let God sort that out),  Please do not forget there are innocent people, churches, missionaries,  pastors, and saints that need our prayers.   And especially the Ministry teams that are trying to get supplies to them. 

* Mainly pray for the Gospel to be spread.  God is opening doors.

* Pray for hearts to be receptive and open to hear and receive the Gospel 

* Pray for protection 

* Pray for strength spiritually and physically (esp those working night and day to help refugees and those in hiding)

* Pray for open doors and safe passage where needed

* Pray for provision for all needs and give where you can considering how you would feel if places were reversed

* Pray, Church, pray! It is more than physical war, it is spiritual. They feel the evil around and need our prayer covering.

Should We Wait Until They Ask?

The recurring common reason and excuse I'm hearing for not teaching holiness and separation from the world is to "wait until they ask". 

Do you wait until a baby or child asks before you instruct them not to bite, or hit, or steal, or pull hair, etc?

No, you work to teach and correct a bad behavior they're exhibiting.  

Do you wait until a baby asks before you teach it how to say words, how to walk, or what 'No!' means?

Do you wait before a child asks before you begin teaching it the ABCs, how to put letters together to make words, and how to write? 

Do you wait until a child asks before beginning to teach him or her reading,  writing,  arithmetic, history, geography, art, music, etc?

No,you begin trying to teach and instruct things you know they need to learn, increasing the knowledge and lessons needed as they grow and grasp what they've previously been taught. 

Did God wait for His people to ask before He gave them the 10 Commandments and extensive instructions in the Law concerning the governing and ordinances of right and wrong?

No, He gave them rules to follow, instructing and correcting bad behavior and the sin nature that are contrary to God's ways. 

God gave them instructions on how to dress, how to live, what was ok or not ok to eat, things that were an abomination to Him, what was right and what was wrong. 

Did Paul wait for the saints in the Churches to ask questions before sending letters of instruction on how to live as a Christian and the sins they needed to shun and avoid?

In a few instances yes, but for the most part, No.  Paul sent them letters instructing them how to live Godly in this present world. 

His letters included instructions for all...men and women....concerning clothing,  hair, alcohol,  submission,  things that will send a person to hell, and the need for the Fruit of the Spirit besides just the Gifts of the Spirit. 

Paul in his letter to Timothy instructed him to.....

2 Timothy 4:2 - 

• Preach the word; 
• be instant in season, out of season; 
• reprove, ( means reprimand, tell a fault, admonish)
• rebuke, (means express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions.)
• exhort  (means to try to encourage or strongly urge someone to do something)
• with all longsuffering and doctrine.  (Use patience and the Word of God)

No, I will not wait until someone asks before teaching Biblical Truths that are contained within the Bible.  Because....

[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable 

• for doctrine, 
• for reproof, 
• for correction, 
• for instruction in righteousness: 

[17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

A Sunbeam shining through the clouds caught my attention. And then it was gone just as quick.

If you're going through a tough time or a trial that you can't see the end to, remember the sun is still shining even when the dark clouds seem to hang low.  

If you keep your eyes and focus on Jesus, He'll give you glimpses and Ray's of Hope's in the darkest of times until the storm has passed over.

Many like to focus on only the first half of this verse. But the second half gives the contingency....that assurance is for those who walk NOT after the flesh but after the Spirit. 

If you're walking in the Spirit,  you won't give in to the lusts and sinful desires of the flesh.

*Pray Everyday 

*Read your Bible Daily 

*Fast Often

David - a mighty man of war

 

Notice David was called a mighty valiant man and a man of war before he ever stepped up to fight Goliath.  

Prior to this statement, David's job was to tend his father's sheep. At some point, a lion and a bear came to steal one of the lamb's under his care.  David did not sit helplessly by.  He sprang to it's rescue and struck the lion and delivered the lamb out of its mouth.  The lion turned to attack David,  but David grabbed it by its beard and killed both the lion and the bear.  

Perhaps these were two separate instances or perhaps they happened at the same moment.  Either way, David showed great courage and bravery as he killed both a lion and a bear that came after the helpless sheep.  

David gave all credit to God as he explained later on to Saul that it was GOD who delivered him. He trusted God to protect him just as he was protecting those lambs. (1 Sam 17:34-37)

His courage and bravery were noticed and word was spread to King Saul that he was a man of war. (Perhaps it was by other shepherds who may have witnessed what transpired between David and the lion and bear?)

I wonder if when he did step up to face Goliath,  those who knew his past had hope that God may possibly work a miracle of deliverance through this young man again for the good of Israel.  

God did use David to deliver all of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.  And later, he became King over all Israel.  (Although he was anointed to be King before he came to play the harp before King Saul and before he fought with Goliath)

But none of this would have happened if David had not spent those solitary hours in the field with the sheep praying and writing songs of worship to the Most High. David had a relationship with God. And because of that, it was said of him by God that he was a man after God's own heart. (Acts 13:22-23)

If we're not teaching, we're failing

Our Churches are failing when they preach messages but don't teach the Doctrines. 

The Bible says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...." Hoses 4:6

(A strong warning follows after for those who close their ears and refuse to hear the teachings in God's Word)

...BECAUSE thou hast REJECTED knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

We have to teach WHY we believe what we believe.  And it has to be more than just Acts 2:38.  Because when the questions of controversy arise, we need to be able to stand! 

Every Promise in the Book is mine, but so is every warning,  admonition,  and teaching.