Category Archives: Inspirational

Christian, Inspirational

State of the Church

Recently, I have heard a few people comment on the great freedom we have to worship the Lord here in the United States and how blessed we are that it is so. What good is that freedom if the Church members will not hear and do not do God’s word.

Where is the persecution Christ promised? John 15:20. Satan is satisfied to give you religious freedom if what you practice is mediocrity and lukewarm Christianity.

What can combat mediocrity and lukewarm Christianity is the truth:

Baptism is required for salvation! Mark 16:16.

Following the Ten Commandments is expected. Exodus 20, John 14:15. I have heard it well expressed the first four show love for God and the last six show love for others. My advice is where you hear a law in the Holy Bible and it seems wise and good, keep it. Write them on your mind and heart. His precepts will guide you.

Read the Holy Bible and pray for understanding. Don’t be afraid to disagree with your pastor or others. Many who cling to denominational creed simply cannot hear the truth.

It is said speaking in tongues is evidence of the Holy Spirit. The Truth is evidence of the Holy Spirit. He is also known as the Spirit of Truth. He takes of Christ and gives to you.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Superbowl LIV Hypocrisy

An attempted theme for the most recent Superbowl was the empowerment of women.

Yet the halftime show of Superbowl LIV appeared to be a competition between two beautiful women. Which one had the best physical assets and which one could shake those assets the fiercest and the sexiest. My elderly mother said of the halftime show she thought it was dirty.

So if the theme was empowerment of women, I think the producers of the Superbowl fell short. The message should have been you don’t have to be a female lesbian to coach or play football and you don’t have to strip to sing well.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

What Lack I?

If I accept Acts 22:16 KJV as the Gospel unto salvation, what lack I?

Only one thing: Remember to keep calling on the name of the Lord throughout your life and during your relationship with Jesus.

Call on Jesus to help you read and understand the Bible

Call on Jesus when you need help to do the right thing.

Call on Jesus when you confess your sins.

Call on Jesus just to give him thanks.

After belief and baptism, all that remains is relationship. If you remember to call upon the name of the Lord and heed is word you will be called, chosen, and faithful.

Romans 10:13 KJV says, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

What Shall We Do?

What shall we do to be saved? The simple and clear answer is found in Acts 22:16 KJV,

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Now there are crusades that claim to have saved millions. They usually practice unscriptural methods of salvation such as asking for a decision card or a prayer of salvation. Why don’t they start others off with a firm foundation? It is because they don’t know the Truth themselves. This leaves another glaring question. How many of those souls never found the narrow gate because they were never washed of their sins, because they weren’t invited into the family of God at the point of conversion?

The start often determines the finish. All of the major crusades whether in California or Africa should not only preach baptism from the start they should practice it. I found that a large crusade in California hosts baptism on the beach a few weeks after the conference. How many souls are lost between the crusade and the baptisms?

I’m not saying decision cards aren’t a good way to connect you to a local Church and I’m not saying a prayer of salvation can’t be the beginning of a relationship with Christ. What I am saying is that the correct knowledge of the Gospel includes baptism for the remission of sins into the body and family of Christ. It is crucial.

Jesus said, in Matthew 28:19-20 KJV, 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.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Prayer of Faith

This is my 3rd and final piece of my series “Healing School”.

James 5:15 says, And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

What is the prayer of faith and is it required for healing? I’ll answer the latter first. Yes, this scripture makes the prayer of faith a requirement for healing.

Faith is belief. It is belief in Jesus our Messiah. It is belief that God has both the power and willingness to do miracles. The prayer of faith then is a prayer by someone who believes.

There are entire denominations such as the Church of Christ which believe miracles are ended. I won’t get into the verse they misinterpret to achieve this unbelief. Their unbelief, however, would exclude the entire denomination from the healing power of God as described in James, which promises New Testament miracles.

Is it required that all the praying elders have faith (or enough faith) to believe for the person to be healed? The quick answer is I don’t know for sure.

I don’t think God intentionally placed an insurmountable burden on people to receive healing. I believe if the seeker has faith of being healed and those praying believe God can that they will find healing.

Seek and ye shall find.

Ask and you will receive.

To be clear: If you need healing, seek it according to James 5:14-15. Ask the elders to perform James 5:14-15 as written for you. You may have to go to multiple churches or denominations. Ask the elders if they believe in the power of God. Ask the elders if they believe God can perform a miracle and heal you of your sickness.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Limitations

If you read my previous post, Healing School, I wanted to clarify a few things.

God can heal whenever, wherever, and however he wants.

Please, don’t think that I’m putting limits on the Lord as some do. In James 5 he tells us how seekers should seek healing and how elders should perform healing.

It is a scripture with promise. It perturbs me when people try to heal other than as prescribed in James. My belief is if people would follow James 5:14-15, the healing success rate would be around 100%. I suppose it’s possible none of the elders could offer prayer in faith, but this could be remedied by seeking prayer at another Church. Seek …

The main problem is no Church that I’ve seen performs James 5 and I suppose that in itself could be indicative of lack of faith.

Ask …

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Healing School

Let me start by letting you know I’m a doubter. I don’t believe the majority, if any, of the healings done on television are real.

I do believe in miracles and I believe God can heal today. I think that if you’re seeking healing or trying to perform it you should take instruction from the Bible. The Bible does not say breath into the microphone and push someone while they fall over. It does not say to hit someone and scream “out”. Nor does it say to pull a name and ailment out of thin air and call it a word of knowledge.

What the Bible does say concerning healing is this: If any be sick let them come before the elders of the Church. Let them be prayed over and anointed with oil in the name of the Lord. And as a bonus God says if they are healed their sins also are forgiven. That’s a pretty big bonus. James 5:14-15.

I have never seen this performed on television or in person, but if you are a seeker of healing or wish to perform it let me qualify James. Elders of the Church including the preacher are male. I would use a decent olive oil. If you’re worried about the carpet, put plastic down.

Happy healing. And moreover blessed forgiveness!

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

What’s Love

I recently commented on a television preacher, who said there were certain people he didn’t like, couldn’t stand to be around, but that he loved them in the Lord.

Was it just an attempt to sound Christian regarding people he didn’t care for or was it a sincere statement? It seemed to me to be worthy of further thought.

What is love? And what is love in the Lord? The Lord’s love isn’t two-faced. It is sincere. He has instructed us to love our enemies. Shouldn’t it be easier to care for people we dislike?

The thing is, I’m not sure what that looks like in action. I think you can hope someone changes, you can hope someone accepts the Lord unto salvation, you can even be nice to someone who isn’t nice to you.

Does that fall short? What’s love to you?

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Yea be Yea

James 5:12 KJV
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

The latter part of this verse seems clear enough. Yet, some don’t appear to get it. An example of this is when people – often in prayer – say Lord I confess my sins. Now, you can confess you are a sinner in a single statement. But if you say I confess my sins without actually saying them – your speech is empty. It reminds me of the verses in James 2:15-16 KJV which say, If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, [16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. Do what you say and say what you mean.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

At What Cost?

What is the personal cost of sin and how does it relate to the search for forgiveness?

In the Old Testament a sacrifice came at a cost. The sacrifice was to be one of the unblemished or finest animals of the flock.

Today if you sin and are seeking forgiveness, there is available only one remedy after full immersion baptism in water. 1 John 1:9 advises us to confess.

Confession to another can come with a cost. The person to whom you are confessing, even if they are family, may think less of you. Don’t die in your sin because of shame or fear, and don’t let anyone talk you out of confession.

What about the cost? Will you actually lose the respect of a family member or friend? Maybe, but you will live. I believe the cost is there in part to prevent future sin. God doesn’t need to hear your confession. He already knows. He does require confession to another, but does not specify who that person needs to be. Confess to clergy, confess to your spouse, confess to a stranger, confess to a neighbor, confess to a friend or an acquaintance. Confess and he, God, is faithful and just to forgive!

Standard