But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. - Matthew 12:36
‘Idle words’- just the common everyday things people talk about. Things such as: weather, sports, news, politics, movies, music, jokes, family, friends, work, etc. The vain earthly things that men spend most of their lives preoccupied with.
And Jesus says we shall give an account for these words in the day of judgment!
That is serious. That is sobering.
“Oh, be careful little mouth what you speak,” “for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks!”
What are you talking about?
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Saturday, September 05, 2009
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Are You Laughing or Crying?
And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary.
Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city. ~ Ezekiel 9:4-7
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. …Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. ~ Luke 6:21 & 25
Take a look around you. There is much abomination in the land.
Are you crying...or laughing?
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And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary.
Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city. ~ Ezekiel 9:4-7
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. …Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. ~ Luke 6:21 & 25
Take a look around you. There is much abomination in the land.
Are you crying...or laughing?
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Would You Dare Usurp the Holy Spirit?
Before you lead a person in the ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ to be saved, stop and ask yourself “Is what I am about to do biblically correct?” Then go and read the entire New Testament and search for the answer to that question. See if you can find one example of the apostles or disciples doing such a thing.
You may be very shocked to find the answer is...NO! No where in scripture will you find the apostles or disciples leading a person in a ‘Sinner’s Prayer.’ Search for it, you will not find it. The ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ is a man made evangelizing technique which is unbiblical and actually usurps the authority and work of God the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, this technique can give a person a false sense of security. He is led in a prayer by someone else, given the very words to pray. Afterwards he is told something like “Congratulation, you’ve been born again.” or “Welcome to the family, you’re now a Christian.” He believes he has done what was necessary to become a Christian. He is assured that all is well with his soul. But, in fact, it is not. He has been converted by men but not the Spirit of God.
Certainly it is true that all who call upon the Lord shall be saved. But, calling upon the Lord goes way beyond simply repeating by rote some words given to you by another person to pray. It is not some quick “Repeat after me” prayer man has invented. Rather, it is the work of God! Consider Jacob of old who wrestled with the Lord through the night until he received the blessing and Saul (later named Paul) who was blinded and in agony of soul for three days.
For a person to be born again, he must be born by the power of God, not the crafty persuasions of man! The Bible says:
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” and “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing" (John 6:63, John 1:13)
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" (Romans 8:14-16)
When the Spirit of God converts a man, that man does not need someone else to tell him how or what to pray. The Holy Spirit will do that. Neither does he need man to assure him that he has been born again. The Spirit will do that also. Truly, salvation is the work of God!
Consider this before you lead another person in the “Sinner’s Prayer” and remember that only God has the right to tell someone he is His child. We have no right to usurp His sovereign authority and will in this matter. Salvation is of the Lord!
As Paris Reidhead said: “No one in the universe has the right to tell a person they’re born of God except the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of adoption. He has never ceded that right to anyone. He reserves that as His sovereign prerogative. The only one that has the right to tell a person they’re born of God is God the Holy Ghost.”
Would you dare usurp the Holy Spirit?
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You may be very shocked to find the answer is...NO! No where in scripture will you find the apostles or disciples leading a person in a ‘Sinner’s Prayer.’ Search for it, you will not find it. The ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ is a man made evangelizing technique which is unbiblical and actually usurps the authority and work of God the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, this technique can give a person a false sense of security. He is led in a prayer by someone else, given the very words to pray. Afterwards he is told something like “Congratulation, you’ve been born again.” or “Welcome to the family, you’re now a Christian.” He believes he has done what was necessary to become a Christian. He is assured that all is well with his soul. But, in fact, it is not. He has been converted by men but not the Spirit of God.
Certainly it is true that all who call upon the Lord shall be saved. But, calling upon the Lord goes way beyond simply repeating by rote some words given to you by another person to pray. It is not some quick “Repeat after me” prayer man has invented. Rather, it is the work of God! Consider Jacob of old who wrestled with the Lord through the night until he received the blessing and Saul (later named Paul) who was blinded and in agony of soul for three days.
For a person to be born again, he must be born by the power of God, not the crafty persuasions of man! The Bible says:
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” and “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing" (John 6:63, John 1:13)
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" (Romans 8:14-16)
When the Spirit of God converts a man, that man does not need someone else to tell him how or what to pray. The Holy Spirit will do that. Neither does he need man to assure him that he has been born again. The Spirit will do that also. Truly, salvation is the work of God!
Consider this before you lead another person in the “Sinner’s Prayer” and remember that only God has the right to tell someone he is His child. We have no right to usurp His sovereign authority and will in this matter. Salvation is of the Lord!
As Paris Reidhead said: “No one in the universe has the right to tell a person they’re born of God except the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of adoption. He has never ceded that right to anyone. He reserves that as His sovereign prerogative. The only one that has the right to tell a person they’re born of God is God the Holy Ghost.”
Would you dare usurp the Holy Spirit?
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Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Are You Sitting In Darkness?
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
(Matthew 4:16, 6:23; Luke 11;35; John 1:5, 3:19, 8:12, 12:46; Acts 26:18; Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 John 1:6)
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And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
(Matthew 4:16, 6:23; Luke 11;35; John 1:5, 3:19, 8:12, 12:46; Acts 26:18; Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 John 1:6)
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Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Who Drew You To Jesus?
"… Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
The word except is a conjunction with the same meaning as the word unless. It is a word that indicates the circumstance. With it’s use, one condition is stipulated by another. Therefore, the condition of perishing is determined by the condition of repentance. If one repents, he will not perish. Likewise, if he does not repent, perish he will.
We see this also in the following verse:
"… Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
The stipulation for seeing the kingdom of God is that one must be born again. If a man is not born again, he will not see the kingdom of God.
Now, consider what Jesus said in the gospel of John.
“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)
You will note that Jesus did not say “no man will come.” Rather, he said “no man can come.” For one to be able to come to the Son, he must be drawn by the Father. If he is not drawn by the Father, he can not come to the Son.
That is a serious stipulation!
Too many people think they have come to Jesus, when the truth is they have not. They have been coaxed or pressured by men to come. They have been told by men what to believe, what to do, and how to do it. They have simply accepted a religion passed on to them by family or friends. They have been taught by men and not by God. (John 6:45) Yet, no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him.
Have you not read that those who are born again are born of God and not by the will of man? (John 1:13) Do you not know that that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit? (John 3:6)
Conversion is a work of God in a man’s heart. Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:29)
I urge you to "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" ( 2 Corinthians 13:5)
Who drew you to Jesus?
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The word except is a conjunction with the same meaning as the word unless. It is a word that indicates the circumstance. With it’s use, one condition is stipulated by another. Therefore, the condition of perishing is determined by the condition of repentance. If one repents, he will not perish. Likewise, if he does not repent, perish he will.
We see this also in the following verse:
"… Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
The stipulation for seeing the kingdom of God is that one must be born again. If a man is not born again, he will not see the kingdom of God.
Now, consider what Jesus said in the gospel of John.
“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)
You will note that Jesus did not say “no man will come.” Rather, he said “no man can come.” For one to be able to come to the Son, he must be drawn by the Father. If he is not drawn by the Father, he can not come to the Son.
That is a serious stipulation!
Too many people think they have come to Jesus, when the truth is they have not. They have been coaxed or pressured by men to come. They have been told by men what to believe, what to do, and how to do it. They have simply accepted a religion passed on to them by family or friends. They have been taught by men and not by God. (John 6:45) Yet, no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him.
Have you not read that those who are born again are born of God and not by the will of man? (John 1:13) Do you not know that that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit? (John 3:6)
Conversion is a work of God in a man’s heart. Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:29)
I urge you to "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" ( 2 Corinthians 13:5)
Who drew you to Jesus?
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Wednesday, May 13, 2009
What Are You Afraid Of?
Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah. ~ Psalm 9:20
I recently did a search on the various fears people may have. Checking numerous sources, I found the following to be among the ten most common, though not necessarily in this order:
1. Spiders
2. Heights
3. Flying
4. Storms
5. Death
6. Crowds
7. Confined spaces
8. Vomiting
9. Cancer
10. Germs
I read of people becoming so bound by their fear that it is a great hindrance in their lives. For instance, some become so afraid of germs that they will never leave their homes, while others fear cancer so much they avoid anyone they know who has it.
There is a sobering irony in all of this. Men being cumbered in fears they should not have, while lacking the one fear that should utterly grip their hearts. That is... the fear of the Lord.
Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. (Psalm 33:8)
Jesus said… “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” (Luke 12:5)
Sinful men are at enmity with their Creator. They have violated His holy standards. They have rebelled against their Maker. They have become defiled and unclean things. God is angry with them. His wrath now abides upon them. One day this just and mighty God will pour out His wrath upon all who work iniquity and cause offence. They will be cast into hell where they will spend an eternity separated from Him.
Should not men fear God? Indeed! Yet, to the destruction of their own souls, they do not.
Look at the list. Do your own search. You will not find the fear of God among the common fears people have. Truly, as we have been told:
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:18)
How utterly tragic this is. Because…
He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them. (Psalm 145:19)
and…
The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy. (Psalm 147:11)
Do you "Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling?" (Psalm 2:11)
What are you afraid of?
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I recently did a search on the various fears people may have. Checking numerous sources, I found the following to be among the ten most common, though not necessarily in this order:
1. Spiders
2. Heights
3. Flying
4. Storms
5. Death
6. Crowds
7. Confined spaces
8. Vomiting
9. Cancer
10. Germs
I read of people becoming so bound by their fear that it is a great hindrance in their lives. For instance, some become so afraid of germs that they will never leave their homes, while others fear cancer so much they avoid anyone they know who has it.
There is a sobering irony in all of this. Men being cumbered in fears they should not have, while lacking the one fear that should utterly grip their hearts. That is... the fear of the Lord.
Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. (Psalm 33:8)
Jesus said… “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” (Luke 12:5)
Sinful men are at enmity with their Creator. They have violated His holy standards. They have rebelled against their Maker. They have become defiled and unclean things. God is angry with them. His wrath now abides upon them. One day this just and mighty God will pour out His wrath upon all who work iniquity and cause offence. They will be cast into hell where they will spend an eternity separated from Him.
Should not men fear God? Indeed! Yet, to the destruction of their own souls, they do not.
Look at the list. Do your own search. You will not find the fear of God among the common fears people have. Truly, as we have been told:
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:18)
How utterly tragic this is. Because…
He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them. (Psalm 145:19)
and…
The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy. (Psalm 147:11)
Do you "Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling?" (Psalm 2:11)
What are you afraid of?
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Thursday, April 30, 2009
Do You Really Want To Know Jesus?
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; ~ Philippians 3:10
Here the apostle Paul speaks of a ‘knowledge’ of Jesus that goes way beyond some simple head knowledge and is much deeper than a sentimental affection. Truly, it is a knowledge of the most intimate type.
Paul wants to be so identified with the nature and character of Jesus that he is willing to suffer to the point of death that he might know the power of His resurrection.
Listen to what Paul is saying.
He is saying:
I want to know what it is to be mocked, despised, and tormented for God.
I want to know what it is to be so hated by this world that I am put to death.
I want to know His victorious power of resurrection to life!
I want to know Him!!!
Obviously, Paul is not talking about some casual Sunday-go-to-meeting type fellowship. He is speaking of a total sold-out surrender that goes way beyond that.
Think about that for a moment.
Let that sink deeply into your mind.
Then ask yourself... “Do I really want to know Jesus?”
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