Jesus Is Still Working On Me

Philippians 1:6-7, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.”

What a short, simple, yet incredibly powerful truth in Matthew 14:30 that perfectly summarizes the Christian life. There is no secret to living the Christian life. The Bible plainly teaches that we live by faith, the same exact way that we are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have Christ's promise that He will always be with us, and never forsake us. Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” We all feel down at times, but dear reader, BE OF GOOD CHEER, for Jesus is risen from the dead!!!

The Holy Spirit reminded me today about Peter, who obeyed the Lord and had the courage to literally get out of a perfectly good boat and walk on water. That took a lot of faith. Peter did walk on the water, not sinking an inch. But when Peter took His eyes off Jesus and began to focus on the stormy sea of Galilee and the rushing winds, he sunk. It's not a mere coincidence that God put this incredible event in the inspired Scriptures for us to read. God wants every Christian to learn the importance of keeping our mind and heart focused upon the Lord Jesus Christ. KEEP YOUR EYES UPON JESUS! If there is a secret to living the Christian life, it is to continually stay focused on Jesus.

When Peter began to sink into the murky depths of the raging sea, he cried out in desperation, “Lord, save me!” The story of Peter walking on the water, sinking, and then crying out to the Lord to be saved is a beautiful truth that even a young child can completely grasp... KEEP YOUR EYES UPON JESUS!!!

We Are Saved and Live the Christian Life by Christ's Righteousness
Peter was already saved in Matthew 14:30. So as a Christian Peter walked on the water by Christ's strength, not his own. As Christians we have nothing to offer God that can please Him, except our faith. Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.

So often when a person comes to Christ and gets saved, they then go down a wrong path of self-righteousness as a believer. That is to say, they know that they were saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone; but they now have the wrong mindset that God is somehow pleased by their own efforts. The truth is that no matter how hard we may try as Christians to live for God, we will fail every day, one way or another, whether in deed or thought. If our best efforts couldn't impress God to get saved, then why should our best impress God now that we are saved? Isaiah 64:6 teaches that even our best self-righteousness is as filth in God's eyes. The same holds true even if a person has been saved for 50-years.

The ONLY thing that has ever pleased God the Father is the righteousness of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, which is imputed (attributed) to every believer the moment they believe the gospel (death, burial and resurrection) of Jesus Christ and are saved. This is why we are taught in the Bible that Christ lives through us as Christian believers. ...

Galatians 2:20-21, “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. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

I love this Bible verse... CHRIST LIVETH IN ME!!! Romans 8:9 teaches that a person is not saved who doesn't have the Spirit of Christ (i.e., the Holy Spirit). We are saved by Christ's righteousness and we continue to live the Christian life by Christ's righteousness. You cannot impress God any more in your own strength as a believer, than you could as an unsaved person who tries to impress God with keeping the Law. The Lord is our strength as His children. I cannot live the Christian life any more than I could save myself from sin and Hell. I live in Christ's righteousness, that is, Christ saved me and lives through me as I yield to the Spirit's leading by the Word of God!

That's not to say that being born-again is a process. The new birth is instant, immediate and undoable. Yet, salvation is more than being saved. Indeed, the salvation of a believer begins the day we are saved and continues to conform us into the image of God's Son each and every day. Through the hardships, sufferings and afflictions of this life we are changed into the image of Christ. Romans 12:2 tells us, “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The Bible Never Tells Us to Seek God's Hidden Will
The Holy Bible never tells us to SEEK God's will; but rather, TO SEEK GOD Himself! The Bible never tells us to seek the will of God; but rather, to obey the revealed will of God in His Word, and then God will direct our paths. Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” So don't worry over what God's secret (or hidden) will is for your life. God has PROMISED to direct our steps if we'll acknowledge God in all our ways. We do this by studying the Bible to know how God wants us to live. Jesus commanded in John 5:39 to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!!

If we do that which we know in the Bible, then God has PROMISED to guide our ways. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Our hope as believers is that Jesus Christ has raised up from the dead and is alive forevermore (John 16:33). Christ is our hope! Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” We don't hope in the sense of optimism as do Muslims and the Amish (who do their best and hope it works out in eternity); but rather, we have a blessed hope in full confidence based upon the PROMISES of God.

To Understand the Times in Which We Live, Keep Your Eyes On Jesus
There are many people who attempt to figure out what's really going on in the world, but they are going in circles, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2nd Timothy 3:7). Without the Word of God you'll never understand the truth, the world nor anything concerning spiritual things.

Did you know that one-third of the Bible is composed of prophecy! It's true! We learn in Revelation 19:13 that “JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY!” ...

Revelation 19:10, “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

In fact, Jesus is the spirit behind all of the Scriptures! That is, all of the Bible centers around Jesus Christ!!! When you read and study the Bible, always look for Jesus in the passage context (how it relates to Him) for the truth.

Kindly said, unbelieving religious Jews have interpreted the Bible all wrong for thousands of years, rejecting the cornerstone of their Messiah. 1st Peter 2:7, “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.” Some people only read the Bible to fit their religious agenda, but without the Messiah they are barking up an empty tree. Others search the Bible for hidden numeric codes, which is a waste of time. The Bible says in Hebrews 1:2 that God speaks to us in these last days through His Son. John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” Always look for Jesus in the Scriptures, for His name is THE WORD OF GOD (Revelation 19:13; John 1:1-3,14). Jesus is the living Word, and the Bible is the written Word. KEEP YOUR EYES UPON JESUS!!!

The heart of the Bible is the blood of the Lamb of God, Who was slain for the sins of the world (John 1:29). The way to make it through the Christian life is to keep our eyes on Jesus. If we take our eyes off the Lord and focus on the problems of this world, then we will begin to sink into an ocean of doubt and despair. When we find ourselves sinking low, we need to cry out to the Lord, putting our eyes back on Jesus and trusting Him at His Word. KEEP YOUR EYES UPON JESUS!!!

In youth I'm too happy to think, I've got plenty of time left.
In manhood I'm too busy to think, I'm trying to make a lot of money.
In the prime of life I'm too anxious to think, worry has taken over.
When I start getting old, I'm too old to think—life's wasted, heart's got harder.
Dying in bed—I'm too sick to think, I'm weak and suffering.
Death is too late to think—time's over and opportunity is lost.
In eternity—forever to think, I'm in Hell now with no mercy, and lost forever.

“Too long I've laid me down to sleep, and prayed the Lord my soul to keep.
I should awake before I die, and realize time is passing by;
And rise and go and tell the lost, despite my plans despite the cost.
Too long I've laid me down to sleep, while multitudes about me weep;
And other cries of dark despair, for no one ever seems to care.
My life is short, and soon I'll stand, with sinner's bloods upon my hand;
Unless I wake before I die, and realize time is passing me by.”

“The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power,
to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour;
To lose one's wealth is sad indeed, to lose one's health is more,
to lose your soul is such a loss, that no one can restore.”

Proofs Of The Promise Of Jesus' Bodily Resurrection

John 2:19, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Acts 1:3, “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

The foundational doctrine upon which Christianity is based is the physical bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even the unsaved heathen world believes that a man named Jesus once lived and died on a cross, but very few people believe that He bodily raised up from the dead three days later.

Evidences of Christ's physical resurrection from the dead: 

1. Jesus Was Seen By Over 500 Witnesses At Once In His Resurrected Body (1st Corinthians 15:6)
2. Jesus Physically Appeared And Met With His Disciples In His Resurrected Body (John 20:19-26)
3. Jesus Physically Ate Food And Drank With His Disciples In His Resurrected Body (Luke 24:42-43)
4. Jesus Told Mary Not To Physically Touch His Body After His Resurrection (John 20:17)
5. Jesus Told His Disciple Thomas To Physically Touch His Scars And Thrust His Side (John 20:27-28)
6. Jesus Walked With And Expounded The Two Disciples On The Road To Emmaus (Luke 24:13-27)
7. Jesus Physically Ascended Into The Clouds In His Resurrected Body (Acts 1:9; Luke 24:51)
8. Jesus Appeared Physically To The Apostle John In The Book Of Revelation (Revelation 1:13-18)
9. Jesus Is Physically Seated On The Right-Hand Of The Father In Heaven (Colossians 3:1)
10. We Will Physically Meet The Lord In The Air At The Rapture (1st Thessalonians 4:17)
11. Every Eye Will Physically See Jesus Bodily At His Second Coming (Revelation 1:7)

I am sure there are more, but these are the evidences off the top of my head that I could think of, thus proving that Jesus Christ raised up from the dead as He foretold. Many religious groups deny Christ's physical resurrection.

For example: The deadly cult of the Jehovah's Witness teach that Jesus only raised up in spirit, but not bodily. For this reason, and many more, the Jehovah's Witnesses are a Satanic cult, which should be avoided at all cost. I am saddened and marvel how anybody could ever be sucked into such a bizarre, unbiblical and doctrinally offensive cult. But then I remember that to the unsaved person—who doesn't have the indwelling Holy Spirit of God to teach and guide them (John 16:13)—the secularized teachings of a group like the JW's makes perfect sense to their human rational.

For example: JW's contend that it doesn't make sense why God would divide Himself into three persons, so they deny the fundamental Bible doctrine of THE GODHEAD (the triune nature of God). The Trinity may not make good math, but it makes good Bible! Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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.”

Jesus' Bodily Resurrection Teaches Immortality For The Whole Man In Both Body And Soul!!!

Beware of the Heresy of Modalism

Also, there is another deadly group creeping a heresy into many churches today called “MODALISM.” According to Modalism, Jesus does not have a body in Heaven. Modalism denies Jesus' bodily resurrection! We know Modalism is false, because the Bible plainly teaches that Jesus DOES have a body, and sits on a literal physical throne in Heaven, on the right-hand of the Father. Colossians 3:1, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Jesus has a physical body up in Heaven, as do all the angels.

In every case in the Bible where angels appeared, they had physical bodies. When the angels met with Lot, they ate the feast that Lot prepared for them (Genesis 19:3). Heaven is a literal physical place. The angels are real, with bodies, and they eat in Heaven. Jesus has a physical body in Heaven, and He eats. The Lord promised His disciples though, that He would not drink of the vine again, until the Kingdom of God is come. Luke 22:18, “For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.” Heaven is a real place!

Kindly, it surprised me when I learned in 2018 that missionary Garrett Kirchway—a former staff member at the Faithful Word Baptist Church, where God is doing a mighty work through Pastor Steven Anderson—that Kirchway denies the Trinity! Brother Anderson has rolled out the welcome mat for those who repent of their heresy and follow the Words of God:

“Anybody, who's been thrown out of the church, can come back whenever they want, to get right with God, renounce heresy, and embrace the Biblical doctrine of the Trinity.” —Pastor Steven Anderson, a helpful quote from the excellent sermon titled, “Unbiblical Reasons: Why We Accept People Who Are Thrown Out.”

Amen! The apostle Paul warned in Acts 20:29, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” Wolves have always crept into the churches. Shockingly, they're coming from places like Bob Jones University, whose graduates are promoting dozens of different corrupt Bible versions, and are promoting the ungodly heresy of Lordship Salvation (which BJU alumni John MacArthur teaches). 

Beware of BJU and their wolf graduates in sheep's clothing! Just because someone has a degree from a Bible college does NOT mean you can trust them! I am so sick of this Lordship Salvation mess! So was Pastor Jack Hyles! I'm Sick Of This Lordship Salvation Mess! (MP3, Dr. Hyles rips against Lordship Salvation lie!). Thank God for faithful preachers like Dr. Jack Hyles!

I am certainly that Garrett Kirchway is 100% sincere in his belief that Jesus has no body in Heaven today, and that there is only God the Father sitting on His throne. But Garrett is very wrong! And may I say—wolves don't know that they are wolves! I also believe that Garrett was hurt when all this happened. As fast as he knew what hit him, he was on the outside of Faithful Word Baptist Church looking in.

Mr. Garrett refused to repent of his heretical position denying the Godhead. As far as I know he is totally finished in the ministry, and should be if he denies the Trinity. You're not serving God or people by teaching false doctrine! Jesus Christ raised up physically, appeared to over 500 saints and His disciples physically, ascended into Heaven physically, exists in Heaven physically today, He is coming back for the saints at the Rapture physically, and seven years later Christ will appear physically for all the world to see.

Kindly, I know for a fact that Garrett is not born-again, because NO ONE who denies the Trinity is saved. Do you have to believe in the Trinity to be saved? No, but if at some point down the road someone takes a Holy Bible and teaches it to you, or you read it for yourself in the Scriptures, but you refuse to accept the plain sound teaching of the Word of God on the Godhead, it is solid proof that you have never been born-again. Jesus said that His sheep hear His voice and heed His words. John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:5, “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” I hear His Words, do you dear reader? HEAR YE HIM!

Beware of Wolves Creeping Into the Church

Galatians 2:4, “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.”

Our text verse from Galatians 2:4 plainly evidences that Satan continually tries to infiltrate, corrupt and conquer the churches. Although the Devil can never defeat THE CHURCH, he is highly successful at destroying local churches, by sneaking into them and secretly bringing in DAMNABLE HERESY. 2nd Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” As you just read, the Devil sneaks DAMNABLE HERESIES into the churches.

The verse that I just quoted to you from Galatians 2:4 plainly evidences that Satan continually tries to infiltrate, corrupt and conquer the churches. Although the Devil can never defeat THE CHURCH, he is highly successful at destroying local churches, by sneaking into them and secretly bringing in DAMNABLE HERESY. 2nd Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” As you just read, the Devil sneaks DAMNABLE HERESIES into the churches.

One third of clergy do not believe in the Resurrection

By Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent | July 31, 2002

A third of Church of England clergy doubt or disbelieve in the physical Resurrection and only half are convinced of the truth of the Virgin birth, according to a new survey. The poll of nearly 2,000 of the Church's 10,000 clergy also found that only half believe that faith in Christ is the only route to salvation. ...

SOURCE: One Third of clergy do not believe in the Resurrection

God never intended for the clergy to become a mere occupation, where unbiblical women preachers, and unqualified unsaved men could usurp leadership roles in people's lives in the churches. The foundational truth upon which Christianity is based is the physical bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Run away from anyone who denies this great truth! John 21:14, “This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.” John 20:30, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.” Jesus is precious!!!

The Deep Things Of God

1st Corinthians 2:10, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD.”

1st Corinthians 2:9 is quoted from Isaiah 64:6 in the Old Testament. The Bible teaches that God has things in store for every believer that eyes cannot see, nor can the ears hear. 1st Corinthians 2:10 tells us that these things are THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD, which are revealed unto us by the Holy Spirit of God.

The phrase “deep things” comes from the Greek word bathos and means “profundity,” that is, figuratively, “mystery.” The Bible is saying that God's Spirit reveals truths that are impossible for the carnal person to grasp and understand. God's Spirit gives wisdom, depth of understanding, and spiritual insight that cannot be obtained anywhere else. If a sinner rejects Jesus as the Christ, the only begotten Son of God, then they have also rejected the Holy Spirit and the deep things of God cannot be revealed unto them.

This is why unsaved people have all the wrong priorities and place so much emphasis upon shallow and meaningless things. Many people are infatuated with buying and owning gold, thinking that they are wise to invest in a precious metal (and it is from a carnal point of view). But the Bible says gold will one day perish and “That THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

How many people recognize that all of the problems, sufferings, and hardships in this life are of more value than gold? Incredibly few I assure you. It puts a whole new perspective on things as a Christian if you fully grasp THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD. As much as I hate to say it... PRAISE GOD FOR ALL OF MY HEALTH PROBLEMS! They keep me praying... “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray” (James 5:13).

You can read all the books on earth, including the Bible; but you'll never discover the mysteries of God—yeah, THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD—without the presence of the Author to teach you. God is the Author, the Penman. When people attempt to learn the Bible without the presence of the Author, false religious cults are formed.

The first step to understanding THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD is to receive Jesus Christ. John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Ye must be born-again (John 3:5). No unsaved person will ever truly be able to grasp the richness, depth, and profoundness of God's truths.

Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” What a precious PROMISE from God. The Lord will show us great and mighty things the Bible promises, if we'll call unto Him. The Bible has a built in dictionary that explains itself. This is the safest way to interpret the Bible.

We learn what God means in Jeremiah 33:3 in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” God rewards those who seek Him by revealing unto them profound truths that carnally-minded men cannot possibly grasp and understand, no matter how much they may desire or try to obtain. 2nd Timothy 3:7 affirms this truth, for these type of people are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” —Isaiah 64:4

So many wonderful and practical Scriptures come to mind. I love what Jacob said to the Lord in Genesis 32:10, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.” Those are my feelings precisely. I am not worthy of all that God has done for me, nor will I ever be. It is only because of God's grace that I am able to live the Christian life and face the dawn of each and every new day.

That is why we will cast our crowns at Jesus' feet at the Judgment Seat of Christ, that is, because 'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. It is only by God's grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9), and that we are able to serve God as the Bible teaches. Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Amen.

God Promises To Punish Those Who Bid Godspeed To False Prophets

Galatians 6:7-9, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

The wonderful Epistle of Galatians is about a group of churches in the providence of Galatia, who had wickedly succumbed to infiltration by a cult of Lordship Salvation perverts. These perverts of the faith taught that partial faith in Christ plus WORKS are required to get to Heaven. The Apostle Paul faithfully rebuked the Galatian churches, plainly calling them “fools.” Galatians 3:1-3, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” THE TRUTH is The Gospel.

You'd think after 2,000 years of history, that churches and Bible colleges today would be much more wiser. Sadly, the same fools exist today. It is in our flawed human nature to make the same blunders again and again. It was Albert Einstein who rightly said that the very definition of insanity as making the same mistakes and expecting different results! That is what we see in 90% of Baptist churches today, fools making the same mistake of adding WORKS to God's saving grace. I love this simple truthful image...

Beware of any pastor who requires you to give up something to be saved

RUN from any corrupt pastor who requires YOU to turn from your sinful ways to be saved. RUN from any accursed pastor who requires YOU to forsake a lifestyle of sinning to get to Heaven. RUN from any hellbound false prophet who requires YOU to get water baptized to be saved. RUN from any lying fool who requires YOU to surrender control of YOUR life over to Christ as 'Lord' to get to Heaven. I'm warning you about Joel Osteen, Pat Robertson, Gary Walton, Mike Murdock, Beth Moore, Ray Comfort, Kirk Cameron, William Lane Craig, Todd Friel, Leroy Surface, John F. MacArthur, Steve Pettit, Church Phelps, Marty Herron, Jared Baldwin, Joe Hensen, Paul Washer, John Piper, Sam Adams, John Hagee, Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, Adrian Rogers, Paris Reidhead, Charles G. Finney—all meddlers with the free grace Gospel, damnable heretics and sinister ministers of unrighteousness (2nd Corinthians 11:13-15). RUN from these IMPOSTERS of the Christian faith!!!

And may I kindly say, RUN from the wicked reprobates that wickedly bid Godspeed to these infidels of the faith; namely, Jeff Redlin, Jason Young, Timothy Zacharias, Kenn Winn, Brendan Stephens, Joshua Burdick and Chuck Gourley). These ungodly charlatans of the Christian faith are a bunch of yuppie types, academics, who woefully lack God's love and compassion for individual people. These are phonies in Christendom, infidels who play church to get people's money to support their income, but at the end of the day they ostracize anyone (including me since August of 2022) who dares to question their cult system at PCC (as I rightly did). Jeff Redlin is the worst offender, a religious Pharisee who writes off anyone who challenges his cult kingdom throne at Campus Church. Sickeningly, Pastor Redlin gets paid well over $100,000 a year! The PCC camp are no better than Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts, Joel Osteen and other shameful religious con artists who prey upon naïve people (Romans 16:17-18).

I cannot warn you enough to avoid the PCC camp!!! I made this needful video to expose the PCC cult that throws people under the bus, as they did me...

Pensacola Christian College Cult Exposed

I don't claim to be a good Christian. I am just a redeemed struggling sinner saved by God's grace. One of the hardest things that I've had to deal with in my Christian life, is ungodly horrible pastors in neo-evangelical churches (like Harvest Baptist Church on Guam and Campus Church at Pensacola Christian College), who couldn't care less about right doctrine, the accuracy of the Gospel, the purity of the Holy Bible, or how they treat hurting people. I can clearly see why so many people are leaving and avoiding the churches today, because of abusive pastors whop scattered the sheep and do more harm than good. It is religious fools like Pastors' Jeff Redlin, Timothy Zacharias, Gary Walton and Marty Herron who are ruining our churches and country today. These evildoers all belong in prison for ruining people's lives!

Dear reader, I refuse to place God on trial because of what wicked pastors do to hurt others. God is not to blame for the stiffnecked arrogance, ongoing abuse, sexual assaults, cult behavior, unwillingness to forgive, and huge ungodly egos at Pensacola Christian College (PCC). I am living proof of the abuse at PCC. As of August 2, 2022 I have been forbidden in writing from attending Campus Church, because I expressed my negative opinion of Campus Church and PCC on social media. What kind of church bans people from attending a church, merely because that person expressed their truthful opinion about abuse within PCC? That is a cult, not a New Testament church. Pensacola Christian College is a dangerous CULT!!!

Behind all the phony singing and sycophantic music at PCC, is a cold-hearted cult system that throws under the bus anybody who dares to challenge their authoritarian cult. I am living proof of that, as is Samantha Field and hundreds more victims who dared to speak up. At PCC you are required to SHUT UP, but God wants us to SPEAK UP. If you fail to go along and follow the cult's strict rules at PCC, not dotting your i's and crossing your t's just right, you will be ostracized and thrown under the bus before you know it. God's curse is upon the PCC camp for them wickedly bidding Godspeed to infidels like ken Ham and Dr. Steve Pettit at Bob Jones University. Making money is all that matters to PCC, not contending for the Christian faith.

Speaking under the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul warned that those who bid Godspeed to false teachers, and follow their perverse teachings, will not be guiltless. Galatians 6:7-9, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Lordship Salvation sows to the flesh, not the Spirit. Those who trust in Lordship Salvation shall only reap corruption to the flesh, and the second death in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

Those fools who sow (trust) turning away from sinful ways to be saved, will reap corruption to the flesh. There are not two Gospels, there is only one (Galatians 1:6). Our rotten churches and Bible colleges have tolerated heresy and heretics for so long, that no one exposes the cults anymore. Pensacola Christian College just wants to make money, play church, go through all their external motions, while at the core not obeying God's command to “rebuke them sharply” who preach a counterfeit gospel (such as the Calvinist garbage being taught at Bob Jones University and the corrupt Harvest Baptist Church on Guam).

Sadly, it is a laughing matter to PCC leadership, but their woeful day of reckoning is soon coming. God will not be mocked. What PCC has sown they shall also reap!!! Woe unto Pensacola Christian College and their apostate Campus Church. Galatians 1:8, “ But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” It is no trifle matter to bid Godspeed to false prophets like Ken Ham, who says that faith is NOT enough to get to Heaven. Ken Ham says you must also turn away from your sinful ways, which is another gospel that cannot produce the new birth by the Holy Spirit of God (John 1:12-13).

Incompetent PCC leadership has blood on there hands. PCC leadership is guilty for bidding Godspeed to false prophet Ken Ham, and the heretics in the Bob Jones camp who preach the Devil's lies of Lordship Salvation and misunderstood repentance. To God be the glory. God knows that I have TOLD THE TRUTH. Romans 3:4, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” God knows that I have told THE TRUTH. Therefore, I know that God is on my side. Psalms 118:6, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”

God's Promise Of Eternal Life Before The World Began

Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.”

The Apostle Paul (writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) makes an amazing statement in Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” Before God ever spoke the universe into existence, he had already promised eternal life. Before God ever created the first human being, Christ has already been slain in the eternal mind of God. Revelation 13:8, "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Notice the words, "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." In God's mind, Jesus had been crucified before the world began, which is why God was able to promise eternal life BEFORE the world began.

God in His foreknowledge knew that mankind would choose to go into sin. God created Adam and Eve, knowing fully that they would rebel against His Word. Yet, God loved humanity and made a way of escape before man was even created. Before the first man was ever formed from the dust of the earth, God had already PROMISED eternal life to mankind. Thus, God made a provision, the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus, to take away the sins of mankind.

We must realize that God does not live in the limitation of time as does humanity. God lives in eternity, where there is no past, present, nor future. This is why the Bible tells us in 2nd Peter 3:8, "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." Whereas mankind is forced to wait and wonder and hope due to the uncertainty of our future; God KNOWS exactly what the future holds, because it is not the future to Him. This is why it is important as Christians that we pray and trust upon the Lord, because He knows the way.

Notice in Titus 1:2 the words "hope of eternal life." The word "hope" here does not speak in the sense of uncertainty; but rather, in the sense of expectation. Thus, we don't hope that God will give to us eternal life; but rather, we HAVE A HOPE that God has given to us eternal life. We already have it! Every believer has the blessed assurance of sweet salvation and eternal life. When we pass away from this earthly life as believers, our spirit which is already alive forevermore will simply enter into eternity to be with the Lord. 2nd Corinthians 5:8, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

The Bible does not teach soul sleep. This is clearly taught in Acts 7:54-59, "When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Carefully notice that as Stephen was being martyred, he looked up into Heaven and saw Jesus standing on the right hand of the Father. Jesus was welcoming Stephen home, giving him a standing ovation. The Bible says that Stephen said, "I see the heavens opened." How much clearer could the Bible be, that departed loved ones who have been saved go to Heaven to be with the Lord? Amen! Stephen saw the Heavens opened and his wonderful and precious Lord waiting to receive him home into glory.

The Bible tells us that eternal life is A PROMISE to the believer! If salvation were by works of self-righteousness, then eternal life would merely be a reward. But salvation is not a reward, it is a free gift from God. If salvation were by religious affiliation, then it would be a privilege. But salvation is not a privilege, it is a free gift from God. If salvation were by nationality, then it would be inherited. But salvation is not an inheritance, it is a free gift from God. Ephesians 2:8,9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Those who teach that salvation can be lost attempt to nullify and cast doubt upon the PROMISE of God to give eternal life to him that believeth. John 3:36a, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." This is God's promise to mankind. God's Law indicts all humanity as guilty sinners. Romans 3:19, "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." Notice the words, "all the world may become guilty before God."

We are all guilty sinners. God the Father is the Prosecutor, whose holiness demands justice and punishment for sin. Jesus Christ came to the Father as our Attorney and offered a plea agreement on our behalf, that we might be pardoned for our crimes against God. Jesus, the holy Lamb of God Who knew no sin, became as sin, that we who knew no righteousness could be made the righteousness of God in Christ. 2nd Corinthians 5:21, "For He [God the Father] hath made Him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." If the proponents of the heresy that salvation can be lost would only accept this Biblical truth, they would cease from attacking the PROMISE of God to save those who simply believe. We are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, i.e., the righteousness of God which is through faith in Christ Jesus crucified.

Before God ever created the world, He had already made a promise to mankind. That promise was eternal life according to Titus 1:2b, which also states that God “CANNOT LIE.” To say that salvation can be lost renders a believer hopeless, living in constant fear and doubt, wondering if they've sinned too much and have lost their salvation. How tragic! How unbiblical! The very fact that the Bible proclaims the PROMISE of eternal life, is clear evidence that God wants the believer's heart to be comforted and settled concerning salvation. If salvation can be lost, then there is little comfort or assurance of salvation. God wants each believer to have the peaceful assurance of salvation because of what Jesus did for us, and not because of what we're doing for Him.

Let's break down Titus 1:2 to disprove the notion that salvation can be lost: 

1. God has provided ETERNAL LIFE to mankind through the redemptive work of Christ. But God wanted us to have more assurance than that, so He...
2. Made us a PROMISE that He'd give to us eternal life through His Son. But God goes further than that to comfort us in our salvation, He...
3. Tells us that He made this promise BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN.
4. Even still, God goes further and wants us to be completely comforted in our salvation by telling us... GOD CANNOT LIE.

So we see that God not only has provided eternal life to mankind through the blood sacrifice of His dear Son, Jesus, but has also committed Himself to us in the form of a promise, that He made before we were ever created, and God reminds us that it is IMPOSSIBLE for Him to lie about anything. God went out of His way in Titus 1:2 to comfort our hearts concerning eternal life.

If I may paraphrase a bit, God is saying to us, "Look, I have a plan to redeem you, and by the way, you can hold me to this because I'm making a promise, and by the way, I made this promise before the universe was ever created, and if that's not enough, I absolutely cannot lie. So you can rest assure in your faith in Jesus as the Christ." This is our blessed hope of salvation. We can depend on Jesus that He won't disappoint us for our faith in Him. What a great and precious Savior!!!

Debt Leveraging For An Eternal Lifestyle

Matthew 13:44, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

Our text verse from Matthew 13:44 is an incredible Scripture. Jesus plainly teaches that He is likening this story to Heaven. Jesus tells the story about a man who finds a treasure in a field. The man realizes that he has found something so great that he joyously goes and sells all his earthly possessions in order to purchase this land so he can obtain the hidden treasure. This story is comparable to Heaven Jesus said, the motherload of all treasures.

This wise man went and sold all his earthly possessions in order to leverage his debt (spending power), so that he could buy this field and all that is hidden in it. My friend, Heaven is a real place. Jesus in this small passage of Scripture is teaching that we ought to do the same as this worldly wise man, by using all of our earthly money, resources and things for Jesus' sake and the gospels. Life is so short that it will literally all be over just in a matter of heartbeats. Your life and mine are counting down quickly.

This does not mean that you ought to give all your money to your church; but rather, it means to use all that God has given to you for His glory, pleasure and purpose. There are thousands of ways to honor God with our substance. It pleases God when we by faith obey Him, taking heed according to His Word, that is, the holy Bible. Psalms 119:9, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” The day you got saved, everything you own became the Lord's, because He watches over your soul day and night as His child.

Whatever golden opportunities that we may presently have to glorify God by reaching the lost for Christ with the gospel, praying and fasting, supporting missionary work, giving financially to the work of God, contending for the Christian faith, taking a stand for God, helping the poor and needy, visiting the captives in prison, lifting up the fallen, restoring the weak and living for OTHERS are quickly fading away. Time is of the essence!

So oftentimes people go into massive financial debt to buy a home, a business, a boat, a car (or all of the above). They use what is called “debt-leveraging,” which means in simple terms, “borrowing to invest more.” You are leveraging your assets to enable you to make a greater investment in something else. In the case of our text Scripture, this man sold everything he owned, leveraging all his worldly wealth in order that he could buy this property with the hidden treasure that he had found.

Here again, Jesus teaches what the Kingdom of Heaven is like:

Matthew 13:45-46, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

This merchant (buyer and seller) of pearls went and sold all his pearls so that he could purchase the mother-of-all-pearls which he had just found. The Lord is likening (comparing) this merchant's decision to go-for-broke to investing in Heaven. Most people (saved and unsaved alike) spend their entire lives leveraging their earthly assets to buy temporal things here on earth. Remember, you can't take any of it with you! You were born into the world with nothing, and you'll die and leave this world with nothing. Proverbs 27:20, “Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.”

With these important truths in mind, it ought to become very clear to the reader that this earthly life isn't worth investing in. Life is like a car, that is, it's a depreciating asset from the moment that you drive it off the parking lot where you bought it. Albeit, Heaven is an eternal investment, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and neither do thieves break through and steal. This is what the Lord taught and promised in Matthew 6:19-20. We have but one life to live. Will you live it for Jesus?

Don't lay up treasures and go into financial debt here on earth so that you can enjoy a better temporary lifestyle here on earth; but rather, lay up for your self eternal treasures in Heaven that will never erode away, nor can they be taken away from you for any reason. We leverage our debt for an eternal lifestyle through prayers, fastings, sharing the gospel (soul-winning) and all that we do in Jesus' precious name for His' sake and the gospel's.

Jim Elliot (1927-1956), the martyred American missionary to Ecuador in 1956 said, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose.” Elliot was one of five missionaries who went in an attempt to evangelize the Huaorani people of Ecuador, but were instead brutally murdered by ten Huaorani soldiers and their dead bodies dumped into the local river. They died for their Christian faith. In America, we think persecution is someone laughing at a religious bumper sticker on our car. Around the world today in 2014, Christians are still being persecuted, prosecuted and martyred for their faith.

The way that we view this temporal earthly life now, will determine our eternal lifestyle for ever. Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Jesus told us to lay up treasures in Heaven. Our lifestyle in eternity as believers will be determined by our life now here on earth. Otherwise, what would be the use of laying up heavenly treasures? Daniel 12:3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” If some believers will shine in eternity, then others won't. If some have laid up treasures, then the plain implication is that others haven't. Will you be one of the haves or have nots in eternity?

Heaven is the mother load of all treasures and we as believers ought to be leveraging our debt by using everything that we own, our talents, our resources and influence to further the Kingdom of God. 'Tis only one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last. If we're all going to have the same exact rewards in Heaven, then what's the use of Scriptures like 1st Corinthians 3:8, “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” Clearly, God rewards the water boy on the spiritual playing field as much as the key players. God rewards the praying man as much as the preaching man, for time spent. God rewards labour and not talent.

Everyone can serve God. Even the person locked behind bars or crippled in a wheelchair can fervently labour in prayer as taught in Colossians 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” Prayer is work!

You Can't Take It With You!

If we truly comprehended by faith the realities of the Kingdom Of God, then we would joyously use the money and things that we have in this temporary world for God's glory. Clearly, wise stewardship of all that God has given to us is expected. Literally, we are stewards who have been entrusted with God's money. If you are saved, then everything that you own is the Lord's. So if someone steals your things, they have stolen from the Lord, because you and everything that you own are His. Literally, God asks us to give back some of what HE GAVE TO US, and then He rewards us for it. What a great deal! What a fantastic deal!

You Can't Take It With You!
(a life-changing MP3 sermon by Pastor Jeff Owens)

We cannot take anything with us when we die, but we CAN send it ahead. That is, it's not what we leave behind that matters; but rather, what will be waiting for us when we get to Heaven. Although Dr. John MacArthur is a liberal who denies that Jesus' blood is sprinkled on the heavenly Mercy Seat, and he teaches a Calvinistic works-based false plan of salvation, still he makes the following awesome quote concerning the mammon of unrighteousness (Luke 16:8-9), with which I agree 100% . . .

“Believers are to use their master's money (we are stewards) in a way that will accrue fruits for eternity, by investing in the kingdom gospel that brings sinners to salvation, so that when they arrive in Heaven (an everlasting home) those sinners will be there to welcome them.” —Pastor John MacArthur

The people whom we lead to the Lord here on earth today, will be there to welcome and receive us into everlasting habitations tomorrow when we die, to enjoy our peaceful and happy home in Heaven forever with Jesus. What a time that will be!!! The story of the wise, but shady, servant who made friends of the mammon of unrighteousness for his own personal gain, is an example which the Lord uses to encourage us to do the same, but by DEBT-LEVERAGING EVERYTHING WE OWN FOR AN ETERNAL LIFESTYLE. Amen!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR GOD TODAY? WE'LL WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GET BUSY FOR GOD!!! You can't take money to Heaven with you, but you can take souls, people. You know, you've never seen a U-Haul trailer hooked-up to the back of a hearse. You can't take it with you!

God Uses Money And Things To Test Our Affections

God uses money and things to test our affections. Colossians 3:1-3, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

The ungodly world only thinks in terms of dollars and cents. Everything is about money to them. Ephesians 4:17, “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind... Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” The heathen world will do anything for money. They are past (beyond) any feelings of guilt for being unethical, greedy and hurtful toward others by the way they make money.

My friend, Heaven is a grand treasure, much more valuable than a giant precious pearl, and far more valuable and enduring than any earthly treasure that can only be enjoyed for a short time. Won't you invest with me in eternal things? There are so many things that you can do to invest in Heaven. Mark 9:41, “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” Even the Christian who buys coffee and refreshments for church gatherings, they will be rewarded by God in Heaven. You're doing something for the Lord. That's what Jesus just said. Mark 9:41 says that giving even a cup of water in a disciple's name will not go unrewarded. So even the things that we do to help OTHERS who are serving Christ will be fully rewarded in eternity.

If you see someone who needs medical attention, but they cannot afford insurance, perhaps you can pay to get them care. Dr. Jack Hyles once met with a couple and the wife kept holding her hand by her mouth to hide her rotten teeth. Brother Hyles paid to have her teeth repaired. That's Christianity! Philippians 2:4, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” If you want to think like Jesus, then always consider the needs of OTHERS and live to fill them, especially their eternal need for hearing the gospel. We draw people into the Church with Christ's LOVE, and then we attach them to the TRUTH. Isn't that beautiful!

Again, Mark 9:41 says that giving even a cup of water in a disciple's name will not go unrewarded. So even the things that we do to help OTHERS who are serving Christ will be fully rewarded in eternity. The eyes of the Lord behold the evil and the good, and no deed is ever overlooked, whether it be good or evil. My friend, let's get busy for Jesus Christ by looking for every possible opportunity to express God's love for our neighbours, co-workers, loved ones, friends and strangers alike, that we may exemplify our precious Lord “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Galatians 1:4).

A Tremendous Biblical Principal To Learn

Remember also that God only rewards us when we give to the poor who cannot return the favor. Luke 14:12, “Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” Please don't miss this important truth about giving.

Matthew 5:46, “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?” If you buy things for people who can buy things to reciprocate your generosity, then the reward is negated. Ah, but when you give to those who cannot return your benevolence, then great is your reward in Heaven. This is exactly what the Bible teaches. If someone gives back the favor, you've lost that reward. This is why we are taught by Jesus Christ Himself in Acts 20:35 that “IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.” Amen and amen! Jesus said to invite the blind, the deaf, the maimed (disabled), the mentally and physically challenged, the homeless, the poor and needy, the nobodies of society. Amen!!!

So many foolish religious people errantly think that God is going to one day reward them for sending money to idiots like Benny Hinn, T.D. Jakes or Joel Osteen—all shady ministers who profit hundreds-of-millions of dollars from the ministry. The word “minister” means servant. Jesus said that the greatest among you is supposed to be a servant. These televangelist thieves and greedy dogs exploit the Bible to make billions of dollars accumulatively from dumbed-down Americans. They scratch people's itching ears, telling the masses whatever makes them feel good about themselves and keeps them coming back for more.

But you'll never hear them crying aloud against sin (Isaiah 58:1), sounding the alarm bells of judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 1:32; Hebrews 9:27) and warning sinners of the eternal damnation (2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9; Revelation 21:8; John 3:36) to come in the Lake of Fire for ever and ever (Revelation 20-11-15). Today's apostate televangelists will make you feel good all the way into the fires of Hell forever and ever. By the way, that's a demon's favorite activity, that is, making religious people feel comfortable without being born-again by the Spirit of God. They have churchianity without Christianity.

So the Biblical formula to earn rewards in Heaven is to give here on earth to those who cannot recompense us; namely, the poor, the imprisoned, the homeless, the maimed, et cetera. Matthew 19:21, “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 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Whereas it is normal for unregenerated, unsaved, heathen, people to steal in their greed, selfishness and dishonesty; the holy Bible teaches that as a Christian we ought to labour to spend our hard-earned money so that we may give to OTHERS who have needs. This is a Christlike attitude toward money. The world says to steal and horde for one's self; but the Bible says to earn and give away to OTHERS. Ephesians 4:28, “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”

If the worldly wise man in our text verse was willing to leverage everything he owned to buy a field with earthly treasure; then how much more ought we be willing as children of God to leverage everything that we own in this world for the furtherance of the gospel, and to glorify the precious name of Jesus Christ by living for the needs of OTHERS. I'll close by repeating the famous quote from martyred missionary, Jim Elliot, who said: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose.”

The World At Our Doorstep!

Every New Testament Church should support missionaries. Since churches are composed of individual born-again believers, then every individual Christian ought to support missionaries as well. We ought to have a GLOBAL, REGIONAL (Acts 13:4; 2nd Corinthians 8:5) and LOCAL vision. Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Jesus' Promise Of Saints Doing Greater Works

John 14:12,13, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001)

The following is chapter 31, "Prayer and Greater Works Than Jesus Did," from Dr. Jack Hyles' excellent book titled: "Exploring Prayer With Jack Hyles"...

I have often used the first part of John 14:12; that is, "the works that I do shall ye do also." I have often tried to avoid the last part. I find it easy to shrink from it. I find myself not wanting to use such a term as doing "greater works" than Jesus did.

I remember when I first pastored a church that was larger than my home church in Dallas, Texas, I felt a twinge of guilt and even sadness and perhaps loneliness as I realized that I was pastoring a church larger than the church in which I grew up. Multiply that by ten million and you will see my feelings concerning the statement, "greater works than these shall ye do." I find myself not wanting to do greater works than Jesus, but it is in the Bible, and I must face it. I must confess that I never understood that verse completely until recently when I was on an airplane. I had no commentary; I had no books with me except the Bible/ I was reading this passage. Suddenly it hit me! I shouted, "I know what that means! Praise the Lord!"

The fellow beside me said, "What did you say?"

I said, "Praise the Lord! Glory to God! I think I just found the meaning of John 14:12."

With a puzzled look on his face he scratched his head and went back to his reading.

Now let us examine the petals of this lovely orchid.

1. Jesus said that the Christian could do the works that He did. What works did He do. Luke 19:10, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." I Timothy 1:15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." It is easy to see that Jesus sought the lost and came to save sinners. These are His works. The Bible says that we are to do those same works.

2. Who can do the works that Jesus did? Notice in John 14:12 the words, "He that believeth on Me." This means the 60-year old that believeth on Him and the 6-year-old that believeth on Him. This means the adult that believeth on Him and the teenager that believeth on Him. This means the learned that believeth on Him and the unlearned that believeth on Him. This means the one who has been to Bible college who believeth on Him and the one who has never been to Bible college that believeth on Him. Every single believer is supposed to do the work that Jesus did, and we must be reminded that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost and that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. That means that every Christian is to be a soul winner. Each Christian can be a soul winner and should be a soul winner, and if he is right with God, he is a soul winner. Soul winning is not a command given to the preacher behind the pulpit, but it is given to the layman in the pew, and to the Christian who is not in the pew but should be.

3. Notice a second promise: "Greater works than these." Also notice why we can do "greater works than these." The answer is simple—"because I go unto My Father." It took me years to see this, and then one day, as I mentioned, on the airplane it dawned on me. Here are two promises and two conditions. The first promise is, "The works that I do shall ye do also." This is for those who believe on Jesus. This is for every Christian. However, there is something else available. "Greater works than these." We do the works that Jesus did because we believe on Him, but we can do greater works because He went to His Father.

He went away so the Comforter could come, and through the power of the Comforter, that is, the Holy Spirit, we may do greater works than these. Notice the first promise is, "the works that I do shall ye do." This is for all believers. The second promise is, "greater works than these shall ye do." This is for those who have the power of the Holy Spirit upon their lives, or shall we say, those who are Spirit-filled. Praise the Lord! Glory to God! Hallelujah! Bless His holy name! As a believer in Christ I can do the works that He did, but because He went to the Father and sent His holy Spirit, now in the energy of the Spirit-filled life I can do greater works than these.

4. Prayer is also a part of that greater works than these. John 14:13, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." Notice the word "and." This connects it with the previous promise. It is talking about prayer. God is saying that if we live the Spirit-filled life and the prayer life, our works can be multiplied into the area of "great works."

In conclusion, there are three conditions to these greater works:

(1) work,

(2) Spirit-fulness, and 

(3) prayer.

'Tis sad but true, some do only one of the three. Some work, but they do it in their own energy and do not live the prayer life. Some seek the fulness of the Holy Spirit but do not work and do not pray. Some believe they have been given the ministry of prayer only, but they know nothing about the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, nor do the work.

Then there are some who do two of the three. They might seek the power of the Holy Spirit and pray but refuse to work. They might pray and work but not receive the power of the Holy Spirit. All three are necessary for a person to do greater works than these. Ah, what blessedness is found in these truths simply because I believe and I can do the same works that Jesus did! Did not the woman at the well upon her faith in Christ flee to the city to tell others about the Saviour? She was doing the same work that Jesus had just done with her, but there is more. There is the promise of greater works, and this promise hinges on three conditions—work, Spirit-fulness and prayer. My soul, my soul, my soul, what keeps us from shouting! What keeps us from running to the field to work, running to the closet to pray and falling on our faces to plead for and claim the fulness of the Holy Spirit!

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I Am Happy In The Lord Because Of His Promises

1st Peter 1:3-9, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

I continually rejoice as a redeemed child of God, with unspeakable joy in knowing that my name is written in Heaven. Where is my name written in Heaven? Why of course, it is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Jesus is the Lamb of God. John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Not only is my name written in the Lamb's (Jesus') Book of Life, but my name

Revelation 17:8, “The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.”

Luke 10:20, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

As redeemed adopted children of God, we continually rejoice with UNSPEAKBEL JOY. That is inexplicable joy that we cannot express in words.

If I seek happiness from circumstances without, then I cannot be happy unless the circumstances of my life are right. My former wife divorced me in 2006. I have painfully lived alone since. I am very lonely all the time, but God's Holy Spirit comforts me and helps me keep going from day to day. I had a root canal done in my upper left molar in February 2022. The procedure didn't go well. The tooth was saved, and an x-ray and 3D scan shows that everything is okay. The tooth is not cracked. It has healed well. Unfortunately, the tooth still hurts mildly and feels really weird all the time, especially at night. The endodontist said it is my ligament that connects the tooth to the jaw bone. He said my only options are to have to tooth extracted (pulled out), or just live with it. I have chosen to live with it, but I am not happy about it. I lost my home in the divorce and have bene renting since. I may never own a home on earth again, which makes me feel sad.

But dear reader, my happiness comes from within, because of my joy that I am a child of God. I am not happy very often from without. I read online that only 12% of men who are aged 50 said they are happy. That means 88% are unhappy. That is because they seek happiness from outward stimuli. I'm not happy being in horrible bodily pain. I suffer in chronic neck pain all the time. I suffer from neuropathic burning in my body's nerves, because of my spinal cord injury. Happiness is what “happens” to you. I have been hurt, cheated, betrayed and defrauded by countless people throughout my life. I am not happy about that. My former wife divorced me in 2006 almost 17 years ago. I am not happy about that. I live alone and am lonely. My faith in God sustains me, but I admit that I am rarely a happy person.

Having said that, I feel happy when I seek contentment from within, knowing that I am on the winning side in Christ Jesus. My website ministry makes me happy. I have joy contending for the faith, because I know it pleases God (Jude 1:3; Titus 1:9-14). I am not a miserable person. I feel happy in my soul, even though my life is not happy without being alone. Joy comes from within. I have peace and joy like a river flowing in my soul, because of God's indwelling Holy Spirit. The very presence of God's blessed Holy Spirit in me is my happiness and joy!!!

JESUS IS MY JOY!!! The precious Lord Jesus Christ is my light, my peace, my joy, my strength and my salvation:

Psalms 1:1-3, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

The man whose Bible is falling apart is not!

If you know that you've been born-again by the Holy Spirit of God into the Kingdom of God, then you ought to be exceedingly joyful. My happiness comes from within, from my joy.

1st Peter 1:8-9, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

I receive many emails from web visitors who are utterly miserable. I always keep emails confidential. I tell people to start listening to Bible preaching every day. Get into the Word of God. I like to listen to Alexander Scourby on YouTube read the King James Bible. It is all free. You can hear the entire King James Bible in just 75 hours. You can hear the whole book of Proverbs in 1:28 hours. We are need truth every day! God's Word is truth (John 17:17).

The many promises of God in His inspired Word make me happy in my bones. This old world of sin will soon pass away. Today's fashions will fade as the next generation comes onto the scene, just as yesterday's fashions have all faded away. In 1950 Hollywood actor Jackie Gleason was known as 'The Great One' around the world, but his name is now all but forgotten by the world (1st John 2:15-17). As believers we are pilgrims passing through here on earth, not settlers. Our permanent home is waiting for us in Heaven (John 14:1-3).

I am listening to this great sermon right now by Pastor Yankee Arnold, which makes me happy to hear. THE TRUTH makes me happy!!! ...

SALVATION versus SERVICE
(Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold)

God's Promise Of The Seal Of The Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:12-14, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

Before an animal could be declare fit for sacrifice or for food, he had to be examined. This was required to receive the seal of approval. If, for example, the animal was to be offered for a sacrifice, he was examined and approved by the priest. If he was without blemish and qualified for sacrifice, a seal or branding was placed on him to signify his acceptance.

Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice. This is why He is called the LAMB OF GOD. John 1:29, "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the LAMB OF GOD, Which taketh away the sins of the world." These were the words of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, who introduced Him first as God's sacrifice. There are many passages which point to Jesus as the LAMB OF GOD. Revelation 7:14, "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the LAMB." Revelation 13:8, "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the LAMB slain form the foundation of the world." Revelation 19:7, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him; for the marriage of the LAMB is come, and His wife hath made herself ready." Revelation 21:9, 14, 27, "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the LAMB's wife. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of he LAMB. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the LAMB's book of life."

Since Jesus was the Lamb of God, meaning that He was the complete, perfect sacrifice, He too must be examined and approved by God the Father. When man sinned, he was separated from God. God wanted that fellowship restored, but He could not do so unless His justice was satisfied. God's mercy said that He wanted to forgive man, but God's justice said that man could not be forgiven unless a suitable sacrifice was found. Christ offered Himself as that sacrifice, which means that the sacrifice of Christ as the as the Lamb of God was the only way that God could be merciful and just. It was the only way that God, within His righteousness, holiness and justice could receive man back to Himself. Since God wanted man's fellowship more than man wants God's fellowship, then Christ first died FOR GOD. It is often said that Christ died for us, but the main thing was that Christ died FOR GOD in order that God could accept us back, for Christ and Christ alone satisfied the righteous and holy demands of God!

God approved His Son for sacrifice. That approval must be followed by a seal. That seal was the Holy Spirit. John 6:27, "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed."

God announced His approval in Matthew 3:17, "And lo a voice from Heaven, saying, This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased." It is interesting that at the same time that God announced His approval, the Holy Spirit was upon Jesus. Matthew 3:16, "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him." This simply fulfills the type that the sacrifice must be examined, approved and sealed. God accepted Christ as the perfect sacrifice. He declared His approval when He said, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased." At the same time the Holy Spirit was upon Jesus in the form of a dove sealing Him as the only acceptable sacrifice for the sins of man.

It must be remembered that the lamb was approved by the priest for sacrifice AND for food. Ah, what a beautiful picture! Not only is Jesus the sacrifice that God accepts and upon Whom God has placed His approval and His seal, that is the Holy Spirit; but Jesus is acceptable by God as a feast! We feast on Him. Notice John 6:27, "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed." Notice especially the stress on "meat that perisheth." This meat that perished had to be approved and sealed by the priest. This meat that does not perish, even our Saviour, was approved by God and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

When the Passover lamb was slain, he was approved. He was examined for four days, from the tenth day of the first month to the fourteenth day of the first month, after which he was offered. Then for seven days after he was killed, the families feasted upon the sacrificed lambs. Hence, the lamb was approved for sacrifice and for food. Praise the Lord, our Saviour is the only acceptable sacrifice approved by God and sealed by the Holy Spirit. He also is the only approved One on Which we can feed in order that wed might grow in grace.

We shall see that there is another sacrifice that has been approved by God and sealed by the Holy Spirit. When a person comes to Christ, he is accepted by the Father in Christ. His faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 4:5, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justified the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." God then sees the believer clothed in the righteousness of Christ, declares him blameless, without blemish. This is the doctrine of justification. God declared the believer as righteous as Jesus Christ, for He sees him clothed in Christ's righteousness, and his standing before God is just as if he had never sinned. This does not mean that the believer lives a life above sin; it means that he stands before God blameless because he has had the righteousness of Christ imputed to him in response to his faith in the finished work of Calvary.

This makes the believer fit for sacrifice, for he has been accepted. The believer's sacrifice, however, is not that of offering himself to die as did his Saviour, but rather offering himself to live for his Saviour! This is called a LIVING SACRIFICE. Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." No one is fit to become this sacrifice until he has first become inspected and examined. This examination is done after the believer has put on Christ and is wearing His imputed righteousness. He immediately receives the seal, which is the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13, "In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." II Corinthians 1:21, "Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God." Now that the believer has been examined and declared righteous, he is fit for sacrifice, and God will accept his living sacrifice as holy and acceptable by God. The Holy Spirit is this seal, and as such, is called the earnest of our salvation. Ephesians 1:14, "Which is the earnest of our inheritance unto the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory." This word "earnest" means that the Holy Spirit seals us and becomes the downpayment for our salvation. When a downpayment is made, it is forfeited if the payment is not made in full, so when God allowed the Holy Spirit to seal us and become the earnest (downpayment) for our salvation, He was risking the unity of the Godhead on the security that the believer has in Christ. If one justified person could lose his salvation, then the Godhead would lose His unity.

This seal of the Holy Spirit is for eternity. It remaineth even in the end time. Revelation 9:4, "And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." The only ones that will be preserved will be those who have the seal.

In some amusement parks when a person pays for his ticket, he receives a mark on his hand that is not visible unless it is placed under the right light. He wears this mark. When he presents himself for a ride or other entertainment, this mark, invisible unless it is under the light, is presented, which means the price has been paid for his admission. Thanks be to God, even when Jesus comes again, we will be sealed by Him. Though that seal is unseen by man, the seal (the Holy Spirit) is seen in the light of eternity, and we are declared as His! The seal of eternal divine ownership shall be worn by the believer for eternity! Hallelujah!

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