A tombstone read:
Pause, stranger, when you pass me by,
For as you are, so once was I.
As I am now, so will you be.
Then prepare unto death, and follow me.
Pushing the grass aside a bit more, was found the following scratched on the stone, done with a crude instrument:
To follow you I'm not content. Till I know which way you went.
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
It would be wise of us to follow the strait and narrow, to follow the way that few will travel. It may seem to be the less popular way, but don't consider the circumstances of the path as much as you consider the destination of the way. We may even have a life of afflictions, but if it ends with us hearing, "well done" it will be well worth whatever it took. Just ask the beggar, the rich man had a great natural life but that didn't mean he had a right relationship with God (Luke 16). Whatever it takes I want to commit myself unto his will and way! I'll obey the scriptures and let the world go by.
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."- Robert Frost
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
False Title
Albert Bierstadt, The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak, 1863.
In his 1867 "Book of the Artists," H.T. Tuckerman described the above painting in glowing terms, "Representing the sublime range which guards the West, its subject is eminently national; and the spirit in which it is executed is at once patient and comprehensive-patient in the careful reproduction of the tints and traits which make up and identify its local character, and comprehensive in the breadth and grandeur of the composition." This painting was one of the most popular at that time, to Americans it seemed to capture the West that many of them had never seen. As did many other Americans, Tuckerman assumed that since the title of this art work was The Rocky Mountains that it in fact represented the Rocky Mountains. But that assumption was not true. No landscape like this exist in the American West, in fact the artist had painted the Alps. The peak centered in this painting is the Matterhorn, a peak the artist often painted. This type of artwork is known not as realistic but as naturalistic. Bierstadt retained elements of the West in this work with accurate representation of Native Americans, but he presented them in a personal point of view. He combined the Swiss Alps with the West. I've heard it said that the artist did this work because he desired for America to be Europe. But nonetheless, as much as this work appears realistic it is not true to it's title.
Mark 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
They might come in his name, may even appear realistic, but as pretty they appear they may be false prophets. The art critic was even fooled by the artist, we cant afford to be fooled. The artist wanted America to be Europe, well the devil has found a way to paint a pretty picture and he wants the world to be the church. We must stay with the scriptures, so that we can tell what is right and what is wrong. They could afford to mistake the Rockies for the Alps, but we cant afford to mistake a lie for truth. We cant afford to mistake anyone that believes in more than one God for a Christian. We cant afford to mistake anyone that hasn't been born again as a child of God. Because no matter the title, it is what it is! I want to be a Biblical Christian. I don't want to be deceived, but I'll deceive myself if I'm only a hearer of the word. Lord help me to be a doer of the word, cause only the truth will set me free.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Just Saying
Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Why is it that so many have a lack of appetite for the word of God. It is so real, it is so relevant. That's often why it is rejected I believe, because many want to live their own way regardless. They worship God with their lips, but that's were it stops. Not only is this in the world, its can be observed in some of those that profess to believe truth. There is a lack of desire for anything with substance. Why is it that instead of the scriptures, everybody wants a pretty little story. Instead of hearing an anointed message, they would rather hear something with little substance that has a catchy title. When the scriptures quit being the final authority, something is very wrong! Not with THE CHURCH, not with God, but with us! Where is the hunger for the word, for truth! And truth isn't picking and choosing what you want to believe. Anyone is entitled to believe anything they want, but I believe the Bible. So what the Bible says is the final authority, period! Whether it goes against my grain, or my tradition, it still has the final authority. And the word is truth, the complete truth! We must believe it all. When those professing to be in truth quit allowing the word to be the final authority in all aspects, they are going in to dangerous territory. Nothing can be worse than for us to believe a lie and be dammed. Often you hear, "so you are saying I'm wrong". Well yes, that's correct, if our belief isn't based on the scripture then according to God and his word, we are absolutely wrong if we believe anything other than what the scriptures say. Why is it that so many want to just do enough to get by. Lord help me to never strive to just barely make it! Because with my whole heart I want to serve him, not with my lips. The word convicts, the scriptures are so real, they deal with all these issues. That's why so many don't desire anything with substance, for it offends them. That should not be! Lord correct me, help me! Whatever you must do I want to be saved, I want substance to sustain me! I thank God for all the substance that's ever been fed me, and will be given me! Even this very blog is unique for me, because usually everything I do is mostly scripture with little comment. Why? Because there is nothing I can add to the word, it teaches and preaches itself. I don't need pretty little slogans, and all the flashy stuff. Though all that might have its place, most of all I want substance! I want the scripture, I want truth. Whether we want it or not, we need it!
Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Galatians 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? ......
Quit taking tradition over truth! Quit putting family before truth! Quit desiring popularity more than truth! Just saying!
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
-Bro. C
Acts 2:38, Obey it!
Why is it that so many have a lack of appetite for the word of God. It is so real, it is so relevant. That's often why it is rejected I believe, because many want to live their own way regardless. They worship God with their lips, but that's were it stops. Not only is this in the world, its can be observed in some of those that profess to believe truth. There is a lack of desire for anything with substance. Why is it that instead of the scriptures, everybody wants a pretty little story. Instead of hearing an anointed message, they would rather hear something with little substance that has a catchy title. When the scriptures quit being the final authority, something is very wrong! Not with THE CHURCH, not with God, but with us! Where is the hunger for the word, for truth! And truth isn't picking and choosing what you want to believe. Anyone is entitled to believe anything they want, but I believe the Bible. So what the Bible says is the final authority, period! Whether it goes against my grain, or my tradition, it still has the final authority. And the word is truth, the complete truth! We must believe it all. When those professing to be in truth quit allowing the word to be the final authority in all aspects, they are going in to dangerous territory. Nothing can be worse than for us to believe a lie and be dammed. Often you hear, "so you are saying I'm wrong". Well yes, that's correct, if our belief isn't based on the scripture then according to God and his word, we are absolutely wrong if we believe anything other than what the scriptures say. Why is it that so many want to just do enough to get by. Lord help me to never strive to just barely make it! Because with my whole heart I want to serve him, not with my lips. The word convicts, the scriptures are so real, they deal with all these issues. That's why so many don't desire anything with substance, for it offends them. That should not be! Lord correct me, help me! Whatever you must do I want to be saved, I want substance to sustain me! I thank God for all the substance that's ever been fed me, and will be given me! Even this very blog is unique for me, because usually everything I do is mostly scripture with little comment. Why? Because there is nothing I can add to the word, it teaches and preaches itself. I don't need pretty little slogans, and all the flashy stuff. Though all that might have its place, most of all I want substance! I want the scripture, I want truth. Whether we want it or not, we need it!
Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Galatians 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? ......
Quit taking tradition over truth! Quit putting family before truth! Quit desiring popularity more than truth! Just saying!
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
-Bro. C
Acts 2:38, Obey it!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
God loves us, His truth saves us!
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God loves us! We, that are in his kingdom are his children, so we know he loves us. But God loves all humans. God hates sins, and so should we! But God loves mankind. So should we! God loves us, that's why he hates sin. Because sin separates us from a God that loves us!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Love involves compassion, but too often folks confuse it with sympathy toward sin. Thats when apathy toward the word of God takes place, is when we have sympathy toward sin.
Deuteronomy 13:6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
Deuteronomy 13:7 Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;
Deuteronomy 13:8 Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:
But rather God's love involves rebuke and correction at times. Because remember God loves us, so he hates any sin that tries to separate us from him. And wants to drive it from our hearts.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Neither does love keep one from telling the truth. The truth is necessary to save us. If anyone is preaching a false message they are accursed, and they are speaking lies.
Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Cant speak a lie in love! Cant have sympathy toward sin, and apathy toward the word and act as if you have a true love for sinners. True love is to give them truth from the word that will save them! That's compassion, that's love!
1 Timothy 2:4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour
1 Timothy 2:5 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
God loves mankind, and he has been longsuffering. We should be longsuffering, and speak the love in truth! Because we don't want them to perish, but they will without truth!
-Bro. C
Acts 2:38- the way into the kingdom! Obey it!
God loves us! We, that are in his kingdom are his children, so we know he loves us. But God loves all humans. God hates sins, and so should we! But God loves mankind. So should we! God loves us, that's why he hates sin. Because sin separates us from a God that loves us!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Love involves compassion, but too often folks confuse it with sympathy toward sin. Thats when apathy toward the word of God takes place, is when we have sympathy toward sin.
Deuteronomy 13:6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
Deuteronomy 13:7 Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;
Deuteronomy 13:8 Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:
But rather God's love involves rebuke and correction at times. Because remember God loves us, so he hates any sin that tries to separate us from him. And wants to drive it from our hearts.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Neither does love keep one from telling the truth. The truth is necessary to save us. If anyone is preaching a false message they are accursed, and they are speaking lies.
Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Cant speak a lie in love! Cant have sympathy toward sin, and apathy toward the word and act as if you have a true love for sinners. True love is to give them truth from the word that will save them! That's compassion, that's love!
1 Timothy 2:4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour
1 Timothy 2:5 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
God loves mankind, and he has been longsuffering. We should be longsuffering, and speak the love in truth! Because we don't want them to perish, but they will without truth!
-Bro. C
Acts 2:38- the way into the kingdom! Obey it!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Please God
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Are we looking to be 'popular'? I sure hope not! We must remember we are going to be hated of ALL nations for his NAMESAKE. The truth has never been 'popular' with men, but the majority doesn't mean anything to God! God is the authority over the church, he is the head. Its not a democracy, a monarchy, nor an oligarchy. The church is the kingdom of God, and it is governed by him! And God places Spiritual Authority in the church (my next upcoming blog is on Spiritual Authority, to resist such authority is to resist God!) to preach, teach, and administrate his people. They are not there to please his people. Ministers are not placed in the church to be 'popular' and please people, they are there to preach and pass on truth! And saints shouldn't be looking to be 'popular' in society either.
Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Lets not worry about our image of fitting in the 2011 world. Lets be concerned with how God views us! WE cant afford to let go of anything, truth is truth! Biblical sound doctrine must be our desire, and we must love truth with our entire heart. Don't seek to please men, seek to obey God!
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
-Bro. C
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Godly Inheritance
Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
The best inheritance one can leave for the next generation is a Godly heritage. Buy the truth and sell it not, not just for your own sake but for your family and friends sake. We first must save ourselves, but without truth our family and friends will never be free from sin. More precious than any inheritance in financial status and wealth is to leave a testimony that you served God, and left that example to the next generation. That is an inheritance that will last. Truth is going to endure to all generations, so it is to our benefit to believe it and love it! Our only hope, our next generations only hope is in a right relationship with God. Is it always going to be easy to stand for what is right, and stand for what is yours? No! Sometimes the path is filled with resistance, because there is a real enemy. But GREATER IS HE that is in us! Naboth stood up against Ahab and wouldn't let him take his vineyard, even though Ahab gave great offers for it. Naboth wasn't for sale. Why? Because the vineyard was his inheritance. And he was lied against, and was killed. He stood his ground, and even though he died he did not lose his vineyard. Something far greater than death is for us to lose our love for truth, and for there to come a strong delusion that we would believe a lie. If we die standing for what is True, so be it! But we cannot lose our heritage, if we want to be a part THE CHURCH!
Psalms 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Psalms 112:2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
The best inheritance one can leave for the next generation is a Godly heritage. Buy the truth and sell it not, not just for your own sake but for your family and friends sake. We first must save ourselves, but without truth our family and friends will never be free from sin. More precious than any inheritance in financial status and wealth is to leave a testimony that you served God, and left that example to the next generation. That is an inheritance that will last. Truth is going to endure to all generations, so it is to our benefit to believe it and love it! Our only hope, our next generations only hope is in a right relationship with God. Is it always going to be easy to stand for what is right, and stand for what is yours? No! Sometimes the path is filled with resistance, because there is a real enemy. But GREATER IS HE that is in us! Naboth stood up against Ahab and wouldn't let him take his vineyard, even though Ahab gave great offers for it. Naboth wasn't for sale. Why? Because the vineyard was his inheritance. And he was lied against, and was killed. He stood his ground, and even though he died he did not lose his vineyard. Something far greater than death is for us to lose our love for truth, and for there to come a strong delusion that we would believe a lie. If we die standing for what is True, so be it! But we cannot lose our heritage, if we want to be a part THE CHURCH!
Psalms 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Psalms 112:2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Our delight should be in the word of God!
Psalms 1:1 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.
Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalms 1:3 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.
Psalms 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Psalms 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Psalms 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Delight in God and the things of God, and pass it to the next generation! Don't delight in the filth of this world. Don't love the ways of the world! Cant serve two masters! Don"t set evil before your eyes. Don't lust after the things God has said NO to! Have a Godly seed. He is the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. Let this truth be passed on! It's the world's only hope! Cant be saved without obeying the word of God, must be born again of water and spirit! Must repent, be baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost! And from there grow! So stand for what is right! And don't forsake the old paths, nor remove the ancient landmarks! Make the decision for you and your house!
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Leave a Godly inheritance of Truth! Have backbone!
-Bro. C
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
THE CHURCH
Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Jesus said he was going to have a church! He said this church would prevail! There is ONE church, the church that Jesus Christ established. This Church is built on the rock, that rock being the revelation that Jesus was the Christ. That he was the son of God! There is one God!
So we can establish our own way and follow our own devices, but they will not make us a part of God's kingdom! We can create our own "church", with our own doctrine. But our devices and our "church" will just pass. But God's church will never fade, never go away. And to be a part of that church, we must obey God! We must stay on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, if not when the storms come we will topple over. Only God's church is going to prevail!
1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
The day is going to declare what you are. If you are not built on the foundation, and are not following the TRUTH you are in trouble! The church must keep preaching Acts 2:38, keep preaching holiness, keep preaching godly living! If we dont, then we dont change truth nor the real church, but we dam ourselves. The Bible hasn't changed, God hasn't changed, his church hasn't changed! Only mankind, and their doctrines change. Have you changed? Hopefully you stay with God's plan, so you can be a part of his kingdom!
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
We are going to be hated for believing in One God, and for believing in the only saving name Jesus! We must endure to the end, God has great things in store for us!
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Jesus said he was going to have a church! He said this church would prevail! There is ONE church, the church that Jesus Christ established. This Church is built on the rock, that rock being the revelation that Jesus was the Christ. That he was the son of God! There is one God!
So we can establish our own way and follow our own devices, but they will not make us a part of God's kingdom! We can create our own "church", with our own doctrine. But our devices and our "church" will just pass. But God's church will never fade, never go away. And to be a part of that church, we must obey God! We must stay on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, if not when the storms come we will topple over. Only God's church is going to prevail!
1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
The day is going to declare what you are. If you are not built on the foundation, and are not following the TRUTH you are in trouble! The church must keep preaching Acts 2:38, keep preaching holiness, keep preaching godly living! If we dont, then we dont change truth nor the real church, but we dam ourselves. The Bible hasn't changed, God hasn't changed, his church hasn't changed! Only mankind, and their doctrines change. Have you changed? Hopefully you stay with God's plan, so you can be a part of his kingdom!
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
We are going to be hated for believing in One God, and for believing in the only saving name Jesus! We must endure to the end, God has great things in store for us!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)