Tag Archives: love God

Defeating The Enemy

When I was a little boy I was taught to pray before a meal. Mama taught us to say:
God is great, God is good;
Let us thank Him for our food.
By His hands we are fed,
Bless the Lord for daily bread.
Amen.

I grew up in a “religious” household. Not overly religious. Daddy didn’t go to Church. Mama made us go a Church on Sunday, a local Presbyterian Church. If you notice the prayer I said at meals (saying “Grace”) was not addressed to God.

“Religious” people talk about God. Those “saved by Grace” talk to God. Religious people want God to belong to them. Saved people belong to God. There is a difference between “religious” and “saved, born again”!

As a “religious” person I learned the “Shorter Catechism” of the Presbyterian Church, was baptized by sprinkling, and was given a Bible. I thought I was fine with God. The “Shorter Catechism” is 107 questions about God along with the answers. It taught us as young people about God. The first three questions (and answers) were:

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

Religion teaches a lot about God. I knew a lot about God – but I didn’t know God. I had no personal relationship with God. Many in Christianity are the same way. They know about God. They talk about God. But there is no relationship with God.

The Enemy loves you to be “religious”.

Our enemy is the Devil, also called Satan, Lucifer, that Old Serpent or the Red Dragon.

It was the Devil who tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). It was the Devil who tempted Jesus Christ when He was in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-4). The Devil was created perfect by God, called “Lucifer” which means “Light Bearer”, but he revolted from Heaven and led 1/3 of the angels in Heaven to rebel against God (Revelation 12:4)…. Continue reading

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Speak As Children Of God

We are not told never to speak harshly or with force – but we should consider de-escalation without compromising the truth of God’s Word before we bring out the Magnum. It takes two people to have an argument. As a wise King, Solomon knew that he could win more people to righteousness side with a calm and reasoned response than he could with harshness.

Now there are times for harshness. Our Lord Jesus used harsh words with the Pharisees. One place in Scripture is in Matthew 23:13-36. In those verses our Lord heavily chastises the scribes and Pharisees, saying… Continue reading

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Proof Of Life

As humans, we like to put things in categories. People are red, yellow, black, or white. That’s human tradition, and human error. God tells us that …

Acts 17:26 (AP) God has made all nations of people FROM ONE COMMON SOURCE, OF ONE BLOOD. God determines our appointed times on the earth as well as our boundaries.

It is God Who put people in different places and times – but we are all physically from ONE SOURCE and, if you look “under the hood”, we all have ONE BLOOD. We all bleed RED. As God looks at humanity, He cherishes all that He has created. He sent Jesus Christ to this earth to save whosoever believes on Him. His Disciples are commanded to:… Continue reading

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Follow The Father

Proverbs 13:1 (KJV) A wise son HEARETH his father’s instruction: but a SCORNER HEARETH not rebuke.

In the original language the word HEARETH is not found in the reference to the son, but to the SCORNER. The text actually reads:

“A wise son his father’s instruction, but a SCORNER (lûṣ) HEARETH (šāmaʿ) NOT (lō’) REBUKE (gᵊʿārâ)”

Various translations ADD the word HEARETH between the words SON and HIS FATHER’S, reasoning that this is what should be there. In believe the word was left out intentionally by God. The word “HEARETH” (šāmaʿ) means “to hear with intelligence or with the intent of obedience, to perceive, to hear with interest or give heed”. The SCORNER (lûṣ) – “one who scoffs or makes fun of, one who derides or belittles” will never hear the counsel of the mentor, because that person is their own god or goddess. They minimize all others but themselves. They are the ones who choose… Continue reading

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Who Said That? Jesus or Satan?

As we believe in GOD, we are to believe in JESUS. Jesus is the Son of God. He is the Great I AM, God manifest in the flesh. Jesus is the One Whom God has sent to show us the way of light. When Israel believed in themselves, they lost the Promised Land. God told Israel that every 7th year was to be a Sabbatical Year where Israel believed not in themselves, but in God. God gave Israel numerous Sabbaths where they were to cease their own works, and believe in God. Yet Israel believed in themselves – and lost the Promised Land and their freedoms. We are never to believe in ourselves – but in God and in Christ. Jesus said:

John 12:44-50 (ESV) …. Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.

We are not to believe in ourselves apart from the power of Jesus…. Continue reading

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The Dangerous Confusion Of Idolatry

Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Opening: What is the most deadly poison in the world? If you ask scientists, they will tell you that it is not snake venom, nor black mold, nor even radiation poisoning. The most deadly poison they say is not cyanide, arsenic, or strychnine. It is Botulinum toxin. A tiny particle – 1 nanogram, a billionth of a gram … and a gram is 1/30 of an ounce – will kill you.

There is something even more deadly than Botulinum toxin, and what makes it so deadly is that it can creep up on you. No, I’m not talking about Covid or the Flu.

The deadliest thing ever was introduced to our species not by a monkey or a sheep, but by a snake in a garden. This deadly thing is idolatry. Continue reading

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Man Not Naturally Good – But God Is

Romans 1:17-20 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; [19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them. [20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse…

The “JUST” or “RIGHTEOUS” Shall
Live By Faith In God

Word Study: The Bible says “The JUST shall live by faith”. The word translated “JUST” is the Greek dikaios (pro. dik’-ah-yos) which means “those who are RIGHTEOUS, JUSTIFIED or in a RIGHT STATE WITH GOD, the HOLY or BLAMELESS”. This statement is used frequently in the Bible – and NOT just in the New Testament. In the Book of Habakkuk God told the Prophet:

Habakkuk 1:6-7 (ESV) … I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own. 7 They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves.

Why? Because Israel had departed from following God. Habakkuk wrote:

Habakkuk 1:12 (ESV) … We shall not die. O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. … Continue reading

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Be Gracious But Careful

The fruit of the Christian life should be graciousness. We have received undeserved grace from the Lord Jesus Christ. We – in turn – should be gracious to others. When Jesus sent out His Apostles to minister, He told them:

Matthew 10:8 … (NIV) Freely you have received; freely give ..

The Apostle Paul gathered the Church at Ephesus and, speaking to those he so loved, encouraged the Church to live by GRACE. He said:

Acts 20:32-35 (NKJV) So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

God gave grace freely to His Children, and we, in turn, are to give graciously. The mark of the true Christian is the one who shows the fruit of hospitality. The Scripture says “show HOSPITALITY to one another WITHOUT GRUMBLING” (1 Peter 4:9). We are commanded to “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Romans 12:13). But our generosity is not just to be IN the Church, but OUTSIDE of the Church. We are told: Continue reading

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Don’t Quit Running, Christian!

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

In chapter 11 God defined faith for us. Faith must be in the proper OBJECT, as faith in the wrong thing or wrong person will not save your soul. We read:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please {God}: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Faith must come to GOD, believing that He is. Faith must come to Jesus, believing that He is the Messiah. Faith must come to the Bible, believing it is the Word of God. Faith must be in the proper PERSON, the proper OBJECT. … Continue reading

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So What’s The Difference Between Catholic And Baptist?

That which is called “The Catholic Church” is as imperfect and blemished as every other Church on the earth is. Can you be saved and be a Catholic? I’ll answer that with a question: Can you be saved and be a Baptist, a Presbyterian, a Church of Christ, a Methodist? Absolutely. If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and are fully reliant upon Him for salvation, then yes, you can be saved. It is not the denomination that saves you, but your faith in Christ Jesus. Having said that, I would not recommend the Catholic Church to any Christian. It is Christ’s death alone that can satisfy or propitiate God’s wrath against sinners (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10). No man on this earth is your priest, dear believer. Every believer is a king and a priest unto God, and Jesus Christ our High Priest. No man dressed in black, or red, or in white so called the “Vicar of Christ” forgives sin nor makes you right before God. As the Scripture says:…. Continue reading

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