Christian, Inspirational

Spirit and Truth

There are many that seek to be in the presence of the Lord. There is nothing wrong with that. They want a feeling of love and peace or they want to be slain in the spirit. There are yet others who spend hours, perhaps even days, fasting and praying to get into his presence.

There is no secret to finding and being in the presence of the Lord. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20 KJV, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

If you attend Church you are in his presence. If you pray with your spouse, he is there. If you have a bible study in your home – he is there.

Meanwhile, others seek the dispensation and gifts of the Holy Ghost. If you want the blessing of the Holy Ghost living in you, learn and accept TRUTH. The Holy Ghost is known as the spirit of truth. John 14:17.

If you let the truth take root and grow in you, you have the Holy Spirit. Read your KJV Bible. Let it sink in. Meditate and memorize verses from it. It is 100% truth. You don’t need speaking in tongues as evidence of the Holy Spirit. You do need to understand truth and have the wisdom to perform it.

Finally, remember God told us in Jeremiah 29:13 KJV, And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. So seek the presence of God, but remember he is not far off. Draw near to him and he will draw nigh to you. James 4:7-8.

If you seek to be in the presence of the Lord God Almighty, Jehovah, there is only one way that I know of, bring Jesus with you and approach him in PRAYER.

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The Spirit of Rebellion

I believe in keeping the Sabbath, however I have not done it very well.

I wake up and I feel like it doesn’t matter if I just go to the gas station. It doesn’t matter if I just go to McDonald’s. This last weekend I did both. I also picked up some sticks outside and did a few little things indoors.

That’s the foundation of the Spirit of Rebellion. It doesn’t matter. It’s not that serious. Oh, its just a small thing.

Yet, God has asked us to do better. He asks us to not sin willfully after we have received knowledge of the truth.

Your prayers to do better and live the faith more perfectly would be appreciated.

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Traditions Worth Keeping

As we learn to trust in God’s finished work in the Holy Bible KJV, we should also place our trust in some of the traditions of the Church. The body may indeed know best.

As a former smoker, I would be first to mention the Bible doesn’t specifically label smoking as sin. Yet by church tradition it is considered a vice and you could certainly argue it has the appearance of evil. Perhaps even something as simple as not caring about your own health or temple. With the Lord’s help I quit smoking. Based on my own experiences, I believe it could be a gateway drug to other addictions like sex, porn, or even stronger drugs.

Church opinions or traditions can often be right, but they should be weighed and considered in conjunction with the Word. If we take a look at the Sabbath, we see the Jews faithfully keep the Sabbath from every Friday eve to Saturday eve. You can find evidence of this in scriptures. Seeing God in creation observing eve to eve in Genesis. And then in Leviticus 23:32 and Isaiah 58:13-14 we see the example of how to observe Sabbath.

Keep those things God moves you to keep. He will help. Keep a soft heart to write them on and practice discernment with which traditions are worthy of observing.

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Trust

With the exception of Catholics, most Christians have accepted 66 books as the Holy Bible. These books were chosen and separated by men, presumably under the guidance of God. Several books were intentionally left out and removed from Holy Canon and placed under the category of Apocropha.

I believe the King James Version was translated with the guidance of God. Briefly, God appoints Kings thus the KJV was authorized. Moreover, I believe the men responsible for the translation were led by pure motives under the supervision of the Holy Ghost. If you get the opportunity, read the dedication page available at the front of some KJV Bibles.

It is good to question, but sometimes simple acceptance is the best choice. I believe my King James Holy Bible was assembled by men with the permission and guidance of God. If you believe this, you don’t need to chase after new translations or go back to the Greek or Hebrew. You can simply trust in the finished work of God.

Where does your trust begin and where does it end?

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Reverence

Reverence for God isn’t just a result of the fear of the Lord. It’s about respect and honor.

When you pray to the Father you are approaching the throne of the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of the Universe and all that exists.

Therefore it is my opinion that you should not pray in the shower or when using the restroom. I’m not saying you need to put on a three piece suit to pray, but there is precedent for not displaying nakedness when coming before the Lord. Exodus 20:26 KJV says, Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

Common sense and respect, reverence is due the Lord in all our actions before him.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, spirit, mind, and strength. This is the first and greatest commandment.

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Christian, Inspirational

Clean

According to a DJ on WayFM, Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good, he came to make dead people alive.

I think both of these are correct. He came to make bad people good. He came to make dead people alive. But above all he came to make dirty people clean.

Water baptism is for the forgiveness of past sins. 1 John 1:9 is for the forgiveness of sins after baptism. His mercy is for those who both confess and forsake their sins. Proverbs 28:13.

To go to Heaven you must be found clean. Washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Do you believe Jesus can strengthen you so that you don’t sin. Do you believe Jesus can help you walk perfectly before the LORD?

Do you really believe in Jesus?

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Christian, Inspirational

Walking in the Light

1 John 1:7-9 KJV says, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. [8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Walking in the light requires that we strive against sin because the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23. The death spoken of here is the second death and it means eternal damnation and separation from God. We may indeed fall short and sin, but God provides a way to cleanliness. Finding forgiveness after baptism starts with 1 John 1:9, but there are a few other verses wherein one can find direction for forgiveness.

James 5:16 KJV Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:20 KJV Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 KJV And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Your salvation depends on being found clean through the blood of Christ. Being cleansed of sin comes from being properly baptized into the family of Christ, living your life striving against sin, confession, prayer, and love. Christ will help you in your battle against sin. I know this because he set me free. Remember to call upon the Lord. Live (walk in the light), learn (read your Bible and attend Church), and love (love the Lord and love one another).

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Once Saved

Why do so many people think to be saved all they have to do is accept Jesus as their savior. As if continuing in Christianity required no effort on their part. While Jesus, himself said follow me, my yoke is easy and my burden light. He never said it was non-existent, that you didn’t have to do anything as a Christian.

In fact, Jesus said if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15) and go forth and teach those commandments. Matthew 28:19-20 KJV says, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

If you think salvation is only accepting Jesus you’re only getting part of the Gospel. You can lose your salvation even after baptism by continuing in sin.

Quit comparing yourself to the thief nailed on the cross next to Jesus, like you are unable to do anything. 

Quit confusing not sinning with good works.

While our righteousnesses may be as filthy rags, that is no excuse to not do good. God must value and have use of filthy rags. Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV says, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Once saved, always saved is simply erroneous doctrine and it won’t lead anyone to Heaven.

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Christian, Inspirational

Mercy Me

Why are some people deaf to the truth? Romans 10:17 KJV says, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. This is a clear answer, but it raises additional questions. In fact, it makes me think about predestination and the mercy of God.

Because of the mercy of God I was raised in a Church that understood baptism. Baptism is a matter of salvation, it’s not just for show. It cleanses our past sins and brings us into the family of God.

The Lord was merciful to me. I was baptized at age 12. But nearly that very same week I fell back into sin. I continued being addicted to porn for over thirty years. Around 18, I acquired an additional addiction in the form of smoking cigarettes. During much of this period I still attended Church on a regular to sporadic basis. In a long process that began with a healthy fear of the Lord, I started reading the Holy Bible. With Jesus help I broke free of my addictions. I have finally became a born again Christian.

Am I saying I’m predestined for Heaven. I hope so. What I can say is that the Lord has been merciful and long suffering for me. He watched over me all those years of living in sin and not even attending Church at all. He led me to him through opening my understanding while reading his Holy Bible KJV. He gave me the strength to confess my sins. I confessed to the Church, to the police, and even to family and friends. He has been true to his word in 1 John 1:9, which offers forgiveness after water baptism. There is hope if we trust in the Lord. He will help us overcome our sin. As Jesus said in John 8:32 KJV, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Is there anything we can do to open the ears of the deaf? I don’t know. I think it is up to the Lord. Is predestination the answer then? Maybe. Some are predestined for eternal salvation in Heaven while others are predestined for eternal damnation in Hell.

However, I wouldn’t us this as an excuse to give up, an excuse to continue in your sin. He has given us freewill and until the day I die I will follow the Lord striving against sin and attempting to walk in the light.

Besides, predestination is largely a POV, point of view. God already knows where we are going and what we will do. He is omniscient or all knowing, but we live in time. Redeem the time. Pray to the Lord to open your ears and your understanding. And that he will grant you the mercy and strength to walk in the light.

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Christian, Inspirational

Faith Alone

It is true that salvation is through faith alone, but what does faith mean? It is more than just believing in Jesus, his death and resurrection. Faith includes the need for water baptism, Mark 16:16. Faith means keeping the commandments, John 14:15, Romans 6:23, Ecc. 12:13. Faith means abstaining from future sin, Hebrews 10:26,27. Faith means seeking forgiveness for sins after water baptism, 1 John 1:9. This is true Christian faith in practice. In order to live, you have to live it out.

Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40 KJV … Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. – and in these two commandments we find the beginning of good works.

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