The Lords Burden Upon Me

Have you been taught the gospel by men, have you received it of man? Are you zealous of the traditions of your fathers? Do you persuade and please men? Has the gospel you believe delivered you from this present evil world? Does it have the power to do this?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ delivers men from this present evil world. It does not leave them in it to love the world and the pleasures of sin for a season. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ not only delivers men from this present evil world, it does not persuade men but God, it does not please men, but God alone. For it is foolishness to those who are perishing. The True Gospel does not let you be a man pleaser but a servant of Christ. For if you please men, you are not the servant of Christ. The servant of Christ does not seek to please men but God.

The Gospel is not after man, it is not received of man but God. It is not something taught by men, it is the revelation of Jesus Christ. It is taught by revelation. Just as the fear of God is not taught to a new creature by precepts and traditions of men, but by revelation of Jesus Christ.

Are you exceedingly zealous of the traditions of your fathers or has God revealed His Son in you? If God has revealed His Son in you, you will not be zealous for the tradition of your fathers, you will be zealous to cut them down so that men may seek God in truth. Some zealously affect you, but not well.

Can you say with Paul, men glorify God in you? Is God in you? Paul gloried in the cross of Christ alone. In Him dwelled no good thing. Does Christ live in you? Are you crucified with Christ? Or are you still alive, doing your own will under the guise of Christianity, zealous for traditions of church organizations in church buildings and exalting traditions over the Word of the Lord?

Have you been baptized into Christ having put on Christ? Baptized into His death? Sharing in His sufferings?

Are you full of adultery(not just physically but spiritually, manifesting physically), fornication(spiritually fornicating with other gods), uncleanness(being unequally yoked with the world or people in any way), lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like; they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

God looks on the heart, He does not judge as with mans judgment with the eyes of sight. But the heart is desperately wicked, it is not in a man to know his own way. Therefore examine yourself. Ask the Lord to search you. Make your calling and election sure with diligence, not with presumption. The simple pass on and are destroyed. The simple believeth every word, but the prudent man looketh well to his going. Through desire, a man having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

Are you crucified unto the world and the world unto you? Do you bear in your body the marks of the Lord Jesus? This is Christianity. A call to die. To be crucified with Christ to all desire, affections and lusts. If ones affections are not on Christ but on other things, things on earth, how does that one expect to run this race or to stay on the strait and narrow? Do they not know that one must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom? Have they even entered into the strait gate yet in which the flight of afflictions lie, in which all hell endeavors to come against? In which on is exhorted to continue steadfast and to run the race set before and throw off every weight and sin to run with endurance to the Prize?

Or have you entered in another way, thinking your sins will not find you out? God is not fooled, He knows if ye have the wedding garment on or not. Some have started the race have drawn back unto perdition. Others will err from the truth becoming sinners and if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? Many believe they are the Lords but will fearfully find that their own heart has deceived them. Many claim to be Christ’s but their god is their belly, who mind earthly things, whose end is destruction. Many on that last day will say Lord, Lord, but He will say, depart from Me, I never knew you. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.

But those having begun the race, having entered into the strait gate, to them the blood of Jesus Christ has purged their conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Having turned from idols to serve the true and living God, can draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, having hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. To them a reproof or a rebuke is life. To them the warnings in the bible are precious. Reproof is the way of life. A wise man feareth and departeth from evil, but the fool rageth and is confident. Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way and he that hateth reproof shall die. Hell and destruction are before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of men. A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him, neither will he go unto the wise. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart; thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. Let the righteous smite me and it shall be a kindness to me, and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil. This is biblical love, my friend.

If these were my words, I would tell you you could disregard them. But these words are the Words of life, the wholesome words of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine which is according to godliness. If one consent not to them, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. Again, these are not my words, but Gods. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away, thus saith the Lord.

If you reject these words, hear His voice, and harden your heart, you are not offending me, but the Lord of glory. If you hear His voice, harden not your hearts as in the day of provocation, while it is still today. If you deny Him He will deny you before His Father in heaven. If you confess Him He will confess you before His Father in heaven. Yes, it will be a cross. But Jesus said, any who desire to come after Me, deny yourself, and pick up your cross and follow Me. If you don’t hate your own life you cannot be My disciple, Jesus says. If you love anything or anyone more than Christ and his Word, you will surely not be His disciple. But if you lose your life you will find it, in Christ. The cost is great but the Prize is Precious. Ye must forsake the world and seek Him alone. Ye will find eternal life. If you go to Calvary you will find Him there. If you’re willing to have Him show you your sin, all of it, He will. And you will find your soul unable to find solace anywhere and yourself groaning, fainting for a Savior. In Him the only Solace there.

THE END IS NEAR!

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:26-30)

The Scripture says Don't be deceived. Like in the days of Noah and Lot, so shall the day be when the Son of Man shall come. All things merry and normal, all going on as they always have, they had no idea that the judgment of God was upon them that day. But that was the day their soul was required of them.(Luke 12:20a But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:)

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)

People are going to speak peace and safety. Many are going to give a false hope and security. Over 400 prophets were speaking peace in Elijah's day. There was only one true prophet of God speaking truth, warning. Over the hundreds and hundreds of years, throughout the accounts of the Scriptures there are many false prophets, speaking peace while there is one true prophet of God, speaking judgment, speaking repentance, that there is no peace. It is the same today. The end is near, very near. Many look forward to that great day of the Lord, when the Son of Man shall appear and men's souls will be required of them. To give an account before God.

Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?(Amos 5:18-20) Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel. (Amos 5:6)

Many say, oh people have said the end is near for centuries now. but The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Many will be very sorely vexed that day. Many think they are prepared but the Word of God says

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)

This is a great warning in the Scriptures. This is eternally important. Heaven and earth will pass away, but His word shall endure forever. This is what is going to take place, what Jesus speaks to His disciples...
And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
(Mark 13:5-8, 23-26)

Is your heart prepared for that day? Is your heart perfect before Him?

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. (1 Chronicles 28:9)

I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. (Psalm 101:2,3)

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. (Matthew 19:21)

Do you have a cleansed conscience before God?
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:8) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22) If your conscience is not cleansed before God, by the blood of Jesus Christ, applied to your heart, you cannot be saved. He has to do this saving work in you first.

Do you have a new heart and a new spirit, which is the New Covenant with God, aka salvation?
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: (Ezekiel 11:19) and A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (Ezekiel36:26)
this was Ezekiel prophesying of the salvation, the New Covenant God was going to make. Without a new heart you are not saved from the wrath to come.

Have your sins been confessed and forsaken?
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13) I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. (Psalm 32:5)

Have you called out to God? (IN TRUTH)
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)

Are you easy to be intreated?
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17) There are those that are soft to the Word of God, easy to be intreated by His people, and there are those who are hard to the Word, hard to be intreated, hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13) God opposes the proud, the hard heart. To the saved He gives a heart of flesh aka a soft heart.

Surely in the days of the Prophets and the days of Jesus and Paul there were those that were easy to be intreated. There are those that love reproof, so that they might be right with the Lord, and those that are hardened, unable to humble themselves, not wanting to hear reproof. They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. (Proverbs 1:30) He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. (Proverbs 10:17) Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. (Proverbs 13:18)

You don't have to answer to me, you have to answer to the Lord so...Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12c)

The time is short. The end is near. Have no gods before the Lord God, no compromises, loving nothing in this world, not setting the least of your affections on earth but in heaven.

Paul was not overly confident.
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11)
IF BY ANY MEANS! THIS WAS PAUL OF ALL PEOPLE SAYING 'IF BY ANY MEANS I MIGHT ATTAIN UNTO THE RESURRECTION'!! Surely Paul knew he would attain, right? If Paul was not over much confident and prideful about attaining to the resurrection, why should we be? Would we not work out our salvation with FEAR and trembling? Paul said "I might", so press in, and strive! In the faith! Do not be at ease in Zion as most are! The church is sleeping! The false church, the harlot (spiritually) is sleeping! Arise, arise!! Be clothed with Christ! Cast the old garments of filthy rags of your own works and put on Christ! Cry out to HIM to clothe you!! Cry out to HIM to save you, as blind Bartimaeus did and was healed! With great humility did he cry out to the Lord!! (Mark 10:46-52)

Are you being conformed to His death? Do you know the FELLOWSHIP of HIS SUFFERINGS???(Philippians 3:10) Is that your Christianity? This is biblical Christianity and what it entails. I had to examine myself to see, is this my Christianity, or is my Christianity like the world? Is my Christianity vain and unlike the bible, is it just like the modern day church or is it like Christ of the bible? If we are dead with Him (spiritually) then we shall also live with Him, if we suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him the bible says. That is the requirement, that we be dead with Him(spiritually).

The bible calls us to be crucified to the world and the world to us, Christianity is a call to come and die(spiritually) that Christ might come in and take up residency. He must.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)
This is what it is to be saved according to the bible, not according to tradition, not according to America, but according to God.

The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. These things in Mark 13 are coming upon us. Are you ready? Ask the Lord? Seek Him while He may be found.

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 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: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
(Proverbs 1:23-33)

Humility

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. The bible speaks of a false humility, a false religion, a false gospel, and a false Christ.

There is a real humility that the Lord delights in and then there is a false humility that God hates. The false humility is will worship (Colossians 2) which says touch not, taste not, and handle not. Dos and don'ts. "I don't drink, I don't party", I don't do all manner of outward wickedness basically. "I do all these works of my hands, look at all my good works." They do their good works to be seen of men, before men, and in this they have their reward. All men speak well of them for their "humility" but God says woe to whom all men speak well of(Luke 6:26).

There is false religion. They seem to be religious, but bridleth not their tongue, deceiving their own hearts. This religion is vain(James 3).

There is a false gospel. There is another spirit, another Jesus, whom we have not preached, Paul warns(1 Corinthians 11:4). This is not speaking of the modern church or your pastor has not preached, but that Paul has not preached. The bible has not preached. What Gospel does the bible preach? Any other, including the traditions of men, is not the true Gospel. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world(1 John 4:1).

Be not deceived, many will come in His name. "Many" the most, will be deceived. The masses will be deceived(Matthew 24:4,5). The road that is broad, wide, leads to destruction, most will go out on that one. But The Way is narrow, the Gate is strait(Matthew 7). Dont go after the most. Don't run with the same excess of riot as they. They think it strange if someone is not running in this way (1Peter4:4). Of course it is "strange", it is not the majority, the way of the most, it's not the broad road. Many will say to Him on that day, Lord, Lord, and He will say depart from me, ye worker of iniquity, I never knew you. Most will say this(Matthew 7).

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of this world, and not after Christ (Colossians 2:8). Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the LORD, and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you (2 Corinthians 6:17). Through desire a man, having seaparted himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom (Proverbs 18:1). Here in is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). How did HE walk in this world? The world hated Him. So therefore, The world cannot hate you: but Me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil (John 7:7). Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you (1 John 3:13). The world will hate you, therefore you cannot love the world, Love not the world, neither this things that are in the world, if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15). Woe to you when all men speak well of you. He says the world will hate you if you are following Him. This is true humility, following Him which results in the world hating you.

The Day of The Lord

The Day of The Lord

Many hope in the day when Jesus will come back.  Many take comfort in just the thought of the rapture, they say, oh the glorious day.  Many desire the Day of the LORD!!  But they don't know that it will be their destruction, not their redemption.  It will be a day of darkness, and not light. Many say, peace, peace, when there is no peace.   For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape(1Thes5:3).  They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace(Jer5:14).  Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter(Eze13:10).

 
They will not be able to escape the day of the Lord.  And it will not be light, it will be darkness, it will be the judgment of God that will meet them(Amos5:18,19).  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night(1Thes5:2).  God hates the feast days, He will not take delight and smell your solemn assemblies.  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity(Luke13:25-27).  They thought they ate and drank in the Lord's presence.  No.  It was not the Lord.  They were workers of iniquity and didn't even know it. They thought they were the Lord's.  This should cause us to say, Is it I, Lord? as the apostles asked Jesus when He told them there is one among you who is a deceiver!

They offer up burnt offerings and meat offerings, but He will not accept them.  They do the right things!  But yet God hates them.  He says to take away from Him the noise of thy song!  When they sing to Him He hates it, it is wickedness, it is not a sweet smelling aroma.  They draw near to Him with their mouth, but their hearts are far from Him(Is29:13).  

The Lord desires judgment and righteousness.  His Spirit even came for this reason.  To convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged(John16).  

They carry images in the tabernacle, making gods unto themselves.  Where there are idols, the Lord causes bondage and captivity.  He says He will cause them to go into captivity right after they were lifting up idols,gods, themselves(Amos5:26-27).  All the while they were looking forward to the Day of the Lord, they were thinking they were worshiping God.  But God knows man's hearts and will judge men.

Rehoboam led the people "to the Lord", but he made two calves of gold!  He told the people, behold, this is the god that brought you out of Egypt!  They worshiped these calves as if they were the ones that brought them out of bondage!  No, the LORD GOD brought them out of bondage, but they worshiped not Him, but idols.  If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt(1Ki12:27-28).  Rehoboam led the people of Israel into wickedness, into idolatry, all the while, taking the name of the Lord upon himself.  God hates this.  He also left up the high places in which they sacrificed to their gods, that God told them to take away.  He left them up. He didn't want to get rid of all the leaven, he held back.  We cannot serve idols and God, though many think you can.

To be delivered from the wrath to come.  To be able to desire the Day of the Lord, still in fear and trembling, yet steadfast on the Lord idols must be forsaken.

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.(1Th1:9-10)

 

Why do I always have such difficult things to say?  Why don't I have something "inspiring"? Because the Lord hates false peace, the Lord hates confirming that is not of Him.  The Lord desires truth.  The Lord never sent prophets to preach peace, peace.  There is false prophet after false prophet preaching peace, assuring people that everything is okay.  The true prophets (people who proclaim the Word of the Lord) proclaimed truth, warnings, rebukes, repentance, examine yourself, turn to God!!  In those days there was need for serious Word from the Lord, as He led, and in the last days perilous times will come.  Perilous times are here.  I won't "inspire" people into hell, but I will speak what the Lord tells me to speak, that His remnant might be gathered from ends of the earth, from the hills.  I will speak what is written, by His grace.

Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts. Amos 5:18-27

Journal

John 6

(:23)Jesus is continually thankful and grateful. We are to be the same, if Christ lives in us, offering the praise of our lips, sometimes a sacrifice of praise, other times the fruit of our lips. Giving thanks in all things(Eph5:20).

(:26)They believed because they ate and were filled physically. Ye seek Me, not because of seeing the miracles. It is good that they sought Him but they sought Him for the temporary gain. Miracles were done to confirm the truth, that He is God, so they may seek Him and believe. He does miracles so that we may seek Him. But Jesus knew their hearts. So He warns them not to labour for the bread which perishes. They sought Him for the physical provision, not for the miracles in awe of what He has done.

(:27)Labour for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life. Which the Son of man shall giveth unto you. We are not to labour for the bread which perisheth. We ARE to labour for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. We are to run the race, we are lay hold of eternal life. We are to labour and He will give. What is the meat? (Heb5:12) Strong meat of the Word. He is the Word (John1). (John4:34)My meat is to do the will of the Father and to finish His work. The meat is Him, and it is to do His will, to finish it. He is the True Bread(:32,33)

(:36) Ye also have seen Me and believe NOT. They obviously had to "believe" they were talking to and hearing an actual person, just like speaking to any stranger, you know or have to believe you are talking to someone. But to believe ON Him is more than acknowledging Him as a Person or knowing and believing He does miracles. They even believed He to be a Prophet and a King (:14,15) yet He says they don't believe. How many people "believe" Him to be a Prophet, a King, they believe Him, but Jesus says you don't believe on Me. He knows the heart. Many will say Lord, Lord, open unto us; we have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, but He will say depart from Me ye workers of iniquity, I know not whence ye are, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luk 13:25-28). Many will trust in their own belief, all the while, they have not come to Him for faith.

Believing is to have faith upon, to entrust Him, commit yourself to Him, put trust with Him.
(1Pet1:8) they have not yet seen Him, yet they love Him, and believe, rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Those that didn't see Him believe. But they that saw didn't believe. Belief is more than a cognitive agreeing something true, it's by the Spirit of God belief comes. It is through His power (Rom15:13).

(John1:12,13) By God. Not flesh nor man's will. It's not a decision of just an agreement or profession of Him, they saw Him yet believed not. Yet if you would've asked who are you speaking with? Jesus. Amen. But Jesus says you believe not.

I have to stop and pause and praise the Lord for the fresh revelation, oh Lord thank you! I have read this chapter for years and knew it was wonderful but it has never been alive like you've given it life to me now. I praise You Jesus! You are the Word of God. It is living and precious. How gracious to show me, a wretch, please give me grace now that you have revived my spirit with quickening. You have made me alive from the dead and I come to You and I do not hunger, I am fed manna from heaven. THE MANNA. Thank You Father for calling me, I love You, precious Savior.

(:35) "I am the Bread of life, he that cometh to Me shall never hunger, and He that believeth on Me shall never thirst." It's not that I will never thirst nor hunger ever again now that I know Him in this life. It is that if I "come to Him" I will never hunger(Psalm 42:1). If I come to Him I have to believe on Him and I will never hunger. Because when I come to Him I am filled, I am fed and revived, and quickened in the Spirit. If I don't come to Him I do thirst and even faint. When I come to Him I do no longer hunger.

When I come to Him, though my flesh rebels, He gives me Manna, True Bread of life, and I am strengthened and filled and the Holy Spirit makes His Word a delight as the Psalmist says over and over again of the Word of God, as he writes in the Spirit.

Born-againism

Born-Againism

There is much talk these days about the rapid growth of the cults. Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Mormonism, the Unification Church and the host of lesser-known groups are making converts at astounding rates. Yet, the combined effect of all these groups is overshadowed by a movement that in the last few years has grown to include over 30% of the U.S. population. The amazing development of what might be called "born-againism" is affecting all sectors of our society. In face, if the latest figures presented in the religious polls are accurate, the current Born-again phenomenon could well be viewed as the fastest growing cult in America. Born-againism has permeated fundamentalist denominations as leaven in dough, and expanded into the culture at large. Candidates espouse it in order to get votes, entertainers use it to attract crowds, pro-football players proclaim it to give respect to their Sunday afternoon brutality, and the business world promotes it in order to make money. Even the secular press, radio, and T.V. have found it fashionable to occasionally slip the little words "born again" into their speech and print.

That the world has jumped on the Born-again Bandwagon in order to exploit it is sad but not surprising. We really shouldn't expect anything else from the spiritually blind world. The real tragedy is that the whole mess was spawned and spread by the "church", and is now lauded as a great revival of Christianity.

The truth is that much of contemporary evangelicalism, like the church of Sardis, appears to be alive, but actually is dead (Revelation 3:1). And we can't blame the atheists, the agnostics, or the liberals for this condition. No, the fault lies with the supposed "Bible believers". Error has been preached as truth and propagated with cultish zeal. As a result multitudes have believed a lie and are headed for hell from fundamentalist church pews with the Bible in their hands and a prayer on their lips. Many others have become disillusioned with all the hypocrisy and false "fulfillment" and have concluded that there is really nothing to this "born again" stuff after all.

But doesn't the Bile teach that men must be born again? Was this not an absolutely fundamental teaching of our Lord, His apostles, and the Church down through the ages? Yes, of course it was, and without this there is no true Christianity. But error clocked in Biblical terms is still error. In the case of the current born-again movement, Scriptural terminology is being used to teach just the opposite of its original meaning. The great doctrine of man's need for regeneration (i.e., miraculous new birth) is being presented in a way that denies the very point it is supposed to teach. Stated simply, the error is this- that men are born again as a result of something they do. This something may be "going forward" at the close of an evangelistic message, making a "decision" for Christ or "repenting" and "believing" the Gospel. Whatever the requirement that is put before the sinner, the impression is given that sinful man himself is the one who brings about regeneration.

The sad results of such a teaching can be seen all around us. Evangelists, who believe that men dead in sin can and will turn to God if the right kind of emotional and psychological inducement is presented, push and pressure lost people into making "decisions." Whatever is necessary to get people to come forward, or raise their hand, or sign a card, is tried by today's "soul winners." Highly emotional meetings, prolonged appeals, repeated musical choruses, and even the deceitful tactic of having counselors strategically placed in the audience to come forward at the time of the "appeal"-all smack of the techniques of crowd psychology.

Those who do come forward (or raise their hand, or sign a card) are then coached into believing that God has come into their lives and that they are now "saved." Deep down though, they know that nothing has really happened. The evangelist has done something, the lost person has done something, but GOD has done nothing. There has been no miracle. The person may give mental assent to the doctrine of the new birth and try to rejoice in it, but there has been no supernatural passing from death to life (Ephesians 2:4-5). This is why most of the "converts" of this kind of "born-againism" show no real zeal for God, and many fall away completely after a month or two. Some remain religious.

That some people are brought into the kingdom in these situations is no doubt true. But it is in spite of these methods, not because of them. If we turn to the section of Scripture most often quoted regarding the new birth, we find the Lord teaching just the opposite of the modern "soul-winner."

In the third chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus tells Nicodemus, "You must be born again." What did the Lord mean by this statement? First of all, it should be noted that Jesus said nothing of any action or decision that Nicodemus must make, nor did He even tell him to repent and believe the gospel. As a matter of fact, Jesus was not telling Nicodemus to do anything! "you must be born again" was not a command Nicodemus was to obey, it was simply a statement of fact. Nicodemus, in his blindness, misunderstood this statement and asked how anyone could do such a thing as that-a man "cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" To this Jesus said in effect, "I'm talking about the Spirit of God coming and miraculously generating life in you. You being flesh can only produce flesh. Only the Spirit of God can produce the spiritual birth you must have in order to enter the Kingdom of God, and God's Spirit blows where He wishes" (See John 3:1-8). The modern evangelist's techniques and teachings are conspicuously absent in this account. The Lord gave Nicodemus no "Four Spiritual Laws", nor any instructions on "How To Be Born Again;" and He certainly used no manipulative tricks. He was concerned to emphasize just one thing: Regeneration is a miraculous work of God's Spirit.

We can and must tell men to turn from their sins and believe the Gospel, but in doing this we should realize that when a man does repent and believe, it is the result of God's prior regenerative working within him. If this were not the case, if man must actually initiate his own salvation, then it would be impossible to escape the conclusion that men do not need regeneration at all, but possess in themselves an innate goodness which causes them to seek after God. Though it be ever so slight, this goodness is then the ultimate reason why one man is saved and another is lost. But the Apostle Paul clearly teaches the contrary when he writes:

"There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no not one" (Romans 3:10-12).

Here Paul states plainly that there is no "spark of goodness" in man that causes him to respond to the Gospel. In fact, man, blinded by sin and Satan, does not even understand the Gospel. He is in total rebellion against God and His truth. If regeneration were contingent upon man first desiring God, no one would ever be born again, for "there is no one that seeketh after God." Moreover, if man must ultimately be given credit for coming to God, Christianity is turned into just one more of the world's man-centered religions or cults which teach salvation by works. All such man-centered systems offer a false hope; for it is simply impossible for sinful man to make himself different than he is-he needs a new heart, he needs to be "born again!"

Again, it should be stressed that we are certainly to tell men to seek God. We must tell them to believe and receive Christ. But these commands will fall on spiritually dear ears unless God first generates life through the inward workings of His Holy Spirit.

You may protest that this makes God the ultimate determiner of who is saved. To this the apostles and prophets with one voice cry, "Amen!" "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:0). Christians, as John puts it in the opening chapter of his Gospel, are people, "who were born not...of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:13). That's why we give thanks to God when someone is converted. We know that God has graciously wrought a miracle-the sovereign, supernatural miracle of the new birth.

This truth should give us confidence to present the pure Gospel, knowing that it is not up to us to somehow maneuver and manipulate men into Christianity. It should also bring us to our knees before the God who is sovereign in salvation. Only He can remove the heart of stone and give a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). Only He can give life to the dead. Only He deserves the blessing, glory and honor.

-Richard R. Ochs

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5)

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44)

"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast give me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24)

"And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the lord God omnipotent reigneth." (Revelation 19:6)

"Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth."(Romans 9:18)

Our Heart And His Heart

What the Word of God says about our hearts and our sin:

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
*Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. (Psalm 51:3-6) *I was shapen in iniquity, In sin did my mother conceive me.

The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. (Psalm 36:1,2) *The wicked says what he is doing is not that bad, he flatters himself.

Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
And it come to pass, *when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven. (Deuteronomy 29:18-20) *This man refuses to acknowledge his sin, he says oh I shall have peace, but he walks in the imaginations of his heart. The imaginations of our heart are telling us that we are at peace, that we don't sin, or our sin is not that bad, it justifies us wrongfully. We cannot listen to the imagination of our heart, that says we are good. We have to listen to the Word of God, what GOD says about our heart and our sin.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) *Man thinks, my heart is not that wicked, my sin not so sinful, Well this is what God says about our hearts.

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15) *Are you they that justify yourselves before men? God knows your heart. What is highly esteemed among men is AN ABOMINATION in the sight of GOD! So you can justify sin all day long, BUT GOD says it is an abomination!

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26) *God says if we trust in ourselves, in our own heart we are fools.

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (Jeremiah 6:16) *He is crying out for us to walk in the good path, to follow the good path. But they were trusting in their own heart, and would not listen to God. They would rather trust in their own way.

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7) *Let the unrighteous man forsake his thoughts. Then he can return to the Lord. Forsake your own thoughts that God will not save, He promises if your forsake your wicked way and come, because His word says it, not because you feel you have faith, but because He says it.

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) *Acknowledge this before the Lord, that our heart looks like this!

But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. (Jeremiah 7:23-24)


These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19) *All the imaginations of the heart are abominations and He hates it.

*We do stand condemned in His sight. He has opened up our heart, shown us, this is what is in there. See the wickedness, the sinfulness of it, don't justify yourself as if you even can. Mourn, cry, in desperation, believe Him.

But...

Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. (Psalm 81:8,9) *If you will hearken unto Him God will take away your idols. Cast yourself upon HIM, He wants to save. But as long as you are trusting in yourself, in your own imaginations of the heart, justifying yourself, you won't cast yourself upon Him, and He won't save because you are not hearkening unto His voice, His Word.

Yes we have this wicked heart, but God desires...

At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:17) *That we no longer walk after the imaginations of our evil heart.

O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? (Jeremiah 4:14) *He desires that we wash our heart from wickedness, that we might be saved.

LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2) *He desires we speak the truth in our heart. Seeing our hearts clearly as He sees them.

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20) *He desires to put a new heart, a new spirit within us! So that we CAN walk in His ways! And be pleasing to Him!! Knowing that we have wicked hearts, in agreement with His Word, we can look to Him to save us and give us a new heart!

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

This is what the Lord desires of thee...

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:8-10)

*Search for Him with all thine heart. His thoughts are good toward you.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

[Mostly taken from our girls night :)]